Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “three body”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,063 records · Page 59

Magnetic fields of the terrestrial planets

The four terrestrial planets, together with the Earth's Moon, provide a significant range of conditions under which dynamo action could occur. All five bodies have been visited by spacecraft, and from three of the five bodies (Earth, Moon and Mars) we have samples of planetary material upon which paleomagnetic studies have been undertaken. At the present time, only the Earth and Mercury appear to have a significant dipole magnetic field. However, the Moon, and possibly Mars, appear to have had ancient planetary dynamos. Venus does not now have a significant planetary magnetic field, and the high surface temperatures should have prevented the recording of evidence of any ancient magnetic field. Since the solidification of the solid inner core is thought to be the energy source for the terrestrial magnetic field, and since smaller bodies evolve thermally more rapidly than larger bodies, we conjecture that the terrestrial planets are today in three different phases of magnetic activity. Venus is in a predynamo phase, not having cooled to the point of core solidification. Mercury and the Earth are in the middle of their dynamo phase, with Mercury perhaps near the end of its activity. Mars and the Moon seem to be well past their dynamo phase. Much needs to be done in the study of the magnetism of the terrestrial planets. We need to characterize the multipole harmonic structure of the Mercury magnetic field plus its secular variation, and we need to analyze returned samples to attempt to unfold the long-term history of Mercury's dynamo. We need to more thoroughly map the magnetism of the lunar surface and to analyze samples obtained from a wider area of the lunar surface. We need a more complete survey of the present Martian magnetic field and samples from a range of different ages of Martian surface material. Finally, a better characterization of the secular variation of the terrestrial magnetic field is needed in order to unfold the workings of the terrestrial dynamo.

Russell, C. T.↗

Numerical computation of viscous blunt body flows with a planar impinging shock

Two- and three-dimensional, viscous blunt body flows with planar impinging shocks are computed using an explicit, time-dependent, finite-difference method to solve the complete set of Navier-Stokes equations. The bow shock is treated as a discontinuity, while all interior shock layer detail such as shear layers, shock waves, jets and the wall boundary layer are automatically captured in the solution. Numerical results are presented for cases in which planar shock waves of different strengths and orientations are allowed to impinge on the flow field surroundings an infinite cylinder resulting in two- and three-dimensional shock interference patterns. The numerical results are compared with experiment.

Holst, T. L.↗

Attitude dynamics simulation subroutines for systems of hinge-connected rigid bodies with nonrigid appendages

Three computer subroutines designed to solve the vector-dyadic differential equations of rotational motion for systems that may be idealized as a collection of hinge-connected rigid bodies assembled in a tree topology, with an optional flexible appendage attached to each body are reported. Deformations of the appendages are mathematically represented by modal coordinates and are assumed small. Within these constraints, the subroutines provide equation solutions for (1) the most general case of unrestricted hinge rotations, with appendage base bodies nominally rotating at a constant speed, (2) the case of unrestricted hinge rotations between rigid bodies, with the restriction that those rigid bodies carrying appendages are nominally nonspinning, and (3) the case of small hinge rotations and nominally nonrotating appendages. Sample problems and their solutions are presented to illustrate the utility of the computer programs.

Fleischer, G. E.↗

Kinesimetric method and apparatus

Apparatus and method for the determination of functional capability of bodies are disclosed. Reach as well as velocity, acceleration and force generation at various positions may be determined for a body by a three dimensional kinesimeter equipped with an ergometer. A general data package indicative of performance potential of a subject body or collection of bodies is provided for interfacing with data characteristics of various environments.

Thornton, W. E.↗

Articulated suspension system

The invention provides a rough terrain vehicle which maintains a substantially constant weight, and therefore traction, on all wheels, despite one wheel moving considerably higher or lower than the others, while avoiding a very soft spring suspension. The vehicle includes a chassis or body to be supported and a pair of side suspensions at either side of the body. In a six wheel vehicle, each side suspension includes a middle wheel, and front and rear linkages respectively coupling the front and rear wheels to the middle wheel. A body link pivotally connects the front and rear linkages together, with the middle of the body link rising or falling by only a fraction of the rise or fall of any of the three wheels. The body link pivotally supports the middle of the length of the body. A transverse suspension for suspending the end of the body on the side suspensions includes a middle part pivotally connected to the body about a longitudinal axis and opposite ends each pivotally connected to one of the side suspensions along at least a longitudinal axis.

Bickler, Donald B.↗

The timing of the human circadian clock is accurately represented by the core body temperature rhythm following phase shifts to a three-cycle light stimulus near the critical zone

A double-stimulus experiment was conducted to evaluate the phase of the underlying circadian clock following light-induced phase shifts of the human circadian system. Circadian phase was assayed by constant routine from the rhythm in core body temperature before and after a three-cycle bright-light stimulus applied near the estimated minimum of the core body temperature rhythm. An identical, consecutive three-cycle light stimulus was then applied, and phase was reassessed. Phase shifts to these consecutive stimuli were no different from those obtained in a previous study following light stimuli applied under steady-state conditions over a range of circadian phases similar to those at which the consecutive stimuli were applied. These data suggest that circadian phase shifts of the core body temperature rhythm in response to a three-cycle stimulus occur within 24 h following the end of the 3-day light stimulus and that this poststimulus temperature rhythm accurately reflects the timing of the underlying circadian clock.

Non-NASA Center↗

Materials Data on VGa2FeCo4 by Materials Project

VFeCo4Ga2 is Tungsten-derived structured and crystallizes in the trigonal R-3m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. V is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to eight Co atoms. There are two shorter (2.47 Å) and six longer (2.48 Å) V–Co bond lengths. Fe is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to eight Co atoms. There are six shorter (2.49 Å) and two longer (2.50 Å) Fe–Co bond lengths. There are six inequivalent Co sites. In the first Co site, Co is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to one V, three equivalent Fe, and four equivalent Ga atoms. There are three shorter (2.48 Å) and one longer (2.49 Å) Co–Ga bond lengths. In the second Co site, Co is bonded in a distorted body-centered cubic geometry to three equivalent V, one Fe, and four equivalent Ga atoms. The Co–Fe bond length is 2.50 Å. There are one shorter (2.47 Å) and three longer (2.50 Å) Co–Ga bond lengths. In the third Co site, Co is bonded in a distorted body-centered cubic geometry to three equivalent V, one Fe, and four equivalent Ga atoms. There are one shorter (2.47 Å) and three longer (2.50 Å) Co–Ga bond lengths. In the fourth Co site, Co is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to one V, three equivalent Fe, and four equivalent Ga atoms. All Co–Fe bond lengths are 2.49 Å. There are three shorter (2.48 Å) and one longer (2.49 Å) Co–Ga bond lengths. In the fifth Co site, Co is bonded in a distorted body-centered cubic geometry to three equivalent V, one Fe, and four equivalent Ga atoms. All Co–V bond lengths are 2.48 Å. There are one shorter (2.47 Å) and three longer (2.50 Å) Co–Ga bond lengths. In the sixth Co site, Co is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to one V, three equivalent Fe, and four equivalent Ga atoms. The Co–V bond length is 2.47 Å. There are three shorter (2.48 Å) and one longer (2.49 Å) Co–Ga bond lengths. Ga is bonded in a distorted body-centered cubic geometry to eight Co atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Topology optimization of multiple deformable bodies in contact with large deformations

Previous works in topology optimization of structures with contact boundary conditions have concentrated on the two-dimensional rigid obstacle problem. This is because the contact analysis of multiple three-dimensional deformable bodies with meshes that are non-matching across the contact interface requires computationally complex contact algorithms beyond the scope of previous optimization investigations. Here, our research is devoted to addressing topology design problems with multiple deformable three-dimensional components in contact using state-of-the-art contact algorithms.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Attitude control system synthesis for the Hoop/Column antenna using the LQG/LTR method

This paper investigates the application of the linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG)/loop transfer recovery (LTR) method to the problem of synthesizing a fine-pointing control system for a large flexible space anenna. The study is based on an antenna, which consists of three rigid-body rotational modes and the first ten elastic modes. A robust compensator design for achieving the required pointing performance in the presence of modeling uncertainties is obtained using the LQG/LTR method. For the Hoop/Column antenna, a satisfactory controller design meeting a desired bandwidth of .1 rad/sec and ensuring stability with unmodelled high frequency modes is obtained using only a collocated pair of 3-axis attitude sensors and torque actuators. This study also indicates that to achieve the desired performance bandwidth of 0.1 rad/sec. and to ensure stability in the presence of higher frequency elastic modes, the design model should include at least the first three flexible modes together with the rigid body modes.

Sundararajan, N.↗

Exercise Sensing and Pose Recovery Inference Tool (ESPRIT) - A Compact Stereo-based Motion Capture Solution For Exercise Monitoring

Crew exercise is important during long-duration space flight not only for maintaining health and fitness but also for preventing adverse health problems, such as losses in muscle strength and bone density. Monitoring crew exercise via motion capture and kinematic analysis aids understanding of the effects of microgravity on exercise and helps ensure that exercise prescriptions are effective. Intelligent Automation, Inc., has developed ESPRIT to monitor exercise activities, detect body markers, extract image features, and recover three-dimensional (3D) kinematic body poses. The system relies on prior knowledge and modeling of the human body and on advanced statistical inference techniques to achieve robust and accurate motion capture. In Phase I, the company demonstrated motion capture of several exercises, including walking, curling, and dead lifting. Phase II efforts focused on enhancing algorithms and delivering an ESPRIT prototype for testing and demonstration.

Lee, Mun Wai↗

Materials Data on HfZrCoSb2Rh by Materials Project

HfZrRhCoSb2 is half-Heusler-derived structured and crystallizes in the trigonal R3m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Hf is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to three equivalent Rh, one Co, and four Sb atoms. All Hf–Rh bond lengths are 2.80 Å. The Hf–Co bond length is 2.79 Å. There are three shorter (2.80 Å) and one longer (2.82 Å) Hf–Sb bond lengths. Zr is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to one Rh, three equivalent Co, and four Sb atoms. The Zr–Rh bond length is 2.83 Å. All Zr–Co bond lengths are 2.80 Å. There are one shorter (2.80 Å) and three longer (2.81 Å) Zr–Sb bond lengths. Rh is bonded to three equivalent Hf and one Zr atom to form distorted RhHf3Zr tetrahedra that share corners with four equivalent SbHf3Zr tetrahedra, corners with six equivalent RhHf3Zr tetrahedra, corners with six equivalent CoHfZr3 tetrahedra, and edges with six SbHf3Zr tetrahedra. Co is bonded to one Hf and three equivalent Zr atoms to form distorted CoHfZr3 tetrahedra that share corners with four equivalent SbHfZr3 tetrahedra, corners with six equivalent RhHf3Zr tetrahedra, corners with six equivalent CoHfZr3 tetrahedra, and edges with six SbHf3Zr tetrahedra. There are two inequivalent Sb sites. In the first Sb site, Sb is bonded to three equivalent Hf and one Zr atom to form distorted SbHf3Zr tetrahedra that share corners with four equivalent RhHf3Zr tetrahedra, corners with twelve SbHf3Zr tetrahedra, edges with three equivalent RhHf3Zr tetrahedra, and edges with three equivalent CoHfZr3 tetrahedra. In the second Sb site, Sb is bonded to one Hf and three equivalent Zr atoms to form distorted SbHfZr3 tetrahedra that share corners with four equivalent CoHfZr3 tetrahedra, corners with twelve SbHf3Zr tetrahedra, edges with three equivalent RhHf3Zr tetrahedra, and edges with three equivalent CoHfZr3 tetrahedra.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Exposure history of shergottites

The cosmogenic nuclides Cl-36, Al-26, Be-10, and Mn-53 were analyzed in Shergotty, ALHA 77005, and EETA 79001 shergottites by means of accelerator mass spectrometry and neutron activation. The cosmogenic radionuclide data were combined with noble gas data and cosmic ray track data to obtain the exposure ages, terrestrial ages, preatmospheric radii, and ablation depths for the three shergottites. The results indicate that none of the three meteorites was irradiated measurably by cosmic rays on its parent body, and that all three objects were ejected from greater than a 3-m depth in their parent bodies. The EETA 79001 meteorite was ejected in an event distinct from that of ALHA 77005 and Shergotty. All three shergottites show a very small amount of ablation, suggesting low velocities on entry into the earth's atmosphere.

Nishizumi, K.↗

On the effects of higher convection modes on the thermal evolution of small planetary bodies

The effects of higher modes of convection on the thermal evolution of a small planetary body is investigated. Three sets of models are designed to specify an initially cold and differentiated, an initially hot and differentiated, and an initially cold and undifferentiated Moon-type body. The strong temperature dependence of viscosity enhances the thickening of lithosphere so that a lithosphere of about 400 km thickness is developed within the first billion years of the evolution of a Moon-type body. The thermally isolating effect of such a lithosphere hampers the heat flux out of the body and increases the temperature of the interior, causing the solid-state convection to occur with high velocity so that even the lower modes of convection can maintain an adiabatic temperature gradient there. It is demonstrated that the effect of solid-state convection on the thermal evolution of the models may be adequately determined by a combination of convection modes up to the third or the fourth order harmonic. The inclusion of higher modes does not affect the results significantly.

Arkani-Hamed, J.↗

Three-dimensional continuum point cloud method for large deformation and its verification

This study presents a strong form based meshfree collocation method, which is named Continuum Point Cloud Method, to solve nonlinear field equations derived from classical mechanics for deformed bodies in three-dimensional Euclidean space. The method and its implementation are benchmarked against a nonlinear vector field using manufactured solutions. The analysis of mechanical fields firstly focuses on the study of St. Venant Kirchhoff and compressible neo-Hookean materials. Results for various initial boundary value problems are presented, including benchmark cases involving unidirectional tension and simple shear. Subsequently, the study concludes with an analysis of a displacement-controlled simulation of a compressible neo-Hookean material, specifically a bar that is pulled to 50% of its original length and rotated 90°. The pure tension case yields a 1.5% error in displacement between computed and expected values and a combined tension and torsion loading case provides further insight into material behavior under complex loading conditions. The resulting normal axial and transverse stress-strain curves are also presented. Lastly, the consistency and robustness of the proposed nonlinear numerical schemes are successfully demonstrated through various numerical experiments.

Compressible neo-Hookean materials↗

Three dimensional spline-generated coordinate transformations for grids around wing-body configurations

A direct algebraic method was developed and applied to generate three dimensional grids around wing-body configurations. The method used is a generalized transfinite interpolation method which generates the desired coordinate transformation using geometric data only on the boundaries of the domain of interest. The geometric data that can be specified includes not only coordinates on the boundaries but also out-of-surface parametric derivatives that give a very precise control over the transformation in the vicinity of the surface. In addition to this, the method gives good control over the stretching of the mesh between different boundaries.

Eriksson, L. E.↗

Heat transfer with very high free-stream turbulence and heat transfer with streamwise vortices

Two experimental programs related to augmentation of heat transfer by complex flow characteristics are reviewed. The first program deals with very high turbulence (up to 63 percent) which was shown to result in Stanton numbers as much as five times the expected values. Results from a number of trials show that fixing the free stream velocity, x-Reynolds number, turbulence intensity and integral length scale does not fix the Stanton number. Two such cases were found in which the Stanton number of one was 40 percent larger than the other. Mean velocity and mean temperature profiles are presented, as well as profiles of turbulence intensity within the boundary layer. The second program deals with vortices originating at bluff bodies and traveling downstream embedded in the wall boundary layer. Velocity vector maps from the boundary layers and distributions of Stanton number on the wall are presented for three types of bodies: square, cylindrical and teardrop. The heat transfer and velocity maps do not show evidence of the expected horseshoe vortices but, instead, show a strong common flow up vortex pair. The fluid mechanic mechanism responsible for this secondary flow field has not yet been identified.

Moffat, Robert J.↗

Artificial Gravity as a Countermeasure of Cardiovascular Deconditioning in Spinal Cord Injury

An essential item in the development of this project was the availability of the artificial gravity simulator (AGS). At the termination of that grant in 1994, the AGS was dismantled and transferred to NASA Johnson Space Center. It took over two years for the AGS to be re-assembled and re-certified for use. As a consequence of the non-availability of the AGS for two years, there was a considerable delay in implementing the various phases of the project. The subjects involved in the study were eight healthy able bodied subjects and twelve with spinal cord injury. After analysis of the data collected on these subjects, six of the healthy able bodied subjects and three of the sub ects with spinal cord injury were found to qualify for the study. This report gives the results of four subjects only, two healthy able bodied and two spinal cord injured subjects because the period of the grant (1 year) and its extension (1 year) expired before additional subjects could be studied. The principal objective of the study was to conduct a series of experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing artificial gravity to assist in the physical rehabilitation of persons with spinal cord injuries.

Cardus, David↗

Optimizing the Zeldovich approximation

We have recently learned that the Zeldovich approximation can be successfully used for a far wider range of gravitational instability scenarios than formerly proposed; we study here how to extend this range. In previous work (Coles, Melott and Shandarin 1993, hereafter CMS) we studied the accuracy of several analytic approximations to gravitational clustering in the mildly nonlinear regime. We found that what we called the 'truncated Zeldovich approximation' (TZA) was better than any other (except in one case the ordinary Zeldovich approximation) over a wide range from linear to mildly nonlinear (sigma approximately 3) regimes. TZA was specified by setting Fourier amplitudes equal to zero for all wavenumbers greater than k(sub nl), where k(sub nl) marks the transition to the nonlinear regime. Here, we study the cross correlation of generalized TZA with a group of n-body simulations for three shapes of window function: sharp k-truncation (as in CMS), a tophat in coordinate space, or a Gaussian. We also study the variation in the crosscorrelation as a function of initial truncation scale within each type. We find that k-truncation, which was so much better than other things tried in CMS, is the worst of these three window shapes. We find that a Gaussian window e(exp(-k(exp 2)/2k(exp 2, sub G))) applied to the initial Fourier amplitudes is the best choice. It produces a greatly improved crosscorrelation in those cases which most needed improvement, e.g. those with more small-scale power in the initial conditions. The optimum choice of kG for the Gaussian window is (a somewhat spectrum-dependent) 1 to 1.5 times k(sub nl). Although all three windows produce similar power spectra and density distribution functions after application of the Zeldovich approximation, the agreement of the phases of the Fourier components with the n-body simulation is better for the Gaussian window. We therefore ascribe the success of the best-choice Gaussian window to its superior treatment of phases in the nonlinear regime. We also report on the accuracy of particle positions and velocities produced by TZA.

Melott, Adrian L.↗