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At least 109 records · Page 6

Aeroelastic characteristics of composite bearingless rotor blades

Owing to the inherent unique structural features of composite bearingless rotors, various assumptions upon which conventional rotor aeroelastic analyses are formulated, are violated. Three such features identified are highly nonlinear and time-varying structural twist, structural redundancy in bending and torsion, and for certain configurations a strongly coupled low frequency bending-torsion mode. An examination of these aeroelastic considerations and appropriate formulations required for accurate analyses of such rotor systems is presented. Also presented are test results from a dynamically scaled model rotor and complementary analytic results obtained with the appropriately reformulated aeroelastic analysis.

Bielawa, R. L.↗

Nonlinear stability of solar type 3 radio bursts. 1: Theory

A theory of the excitation of solar type 3 bursts is presented. Electrons initially unstable to the linear bump-in-tail instability are shown to rapidly amplify Langmuir waves to energy densities characteristic of strong turbulence. The three-dimensional equations which describe the strong coupling (wave-wave) interactions are derived. For parameters characteristic of the interplanetary medium the equations reduce to one dimension. In this case, the oscillating two stream instability (OTSI) is the dominant nonlinear instability, and is stablized through the production of nonlinear ion density fluctuations that efficiently scatter Langmuir waves out of resonance with the electron beam. An analytical model of the electron distribution function is also developed which is used to estimate the total energy losses suffered by the electron beam as it propagates from the solar corona to 1 A.U. and beyond.

Smith, R. A.↗

The magnetic attitude control of the Atmosphere Explorer-E spacecraft

The Atmosphere Explorer-E spacecraft was launched in November 1975, as the last of the Atmosphere Explorer series. It is a dual spin satellite and has on-board magnetic coils to maintain the spin axis of the spacecraft within 2 degrees of orbit normal. There is a constraint on the total angular momentum to keep it at a constant level, at around 1200 in-lb-sec +/-10 percent. On the previous AE satellites, the attitude and momentum were controlled separately, with dipoles mounted parallel to the spin axis for pure attitude control, and with coils in the spin plane to desaturate the momentum wheel. Due to the near-equatorial orbit of the AE-E spacecraft, spin axis coils would be inefficient, because the dipoles would have been closely aligned with the geomagnetic field vector. For this reason it was decided to control both attitude and momentum magnitude with dipoles in the spin plane. However, for spin plane coils the attitude and momentum control are strongly coupled, which required a special control theory to be worked out.

Grell, M. G.↗

System dynamics and simulation of LSS

Large Space Structures have many unique problems arising from mission objectives and the resulting configuration. Inherent in these configurations is a strong coupling among several of the designing disciplines. In particular, the coupling between structural dynamics and control is a key design consideration. The solution to these interactive problems requires efficient and accurate analysis, simulation and test techniques, and properly planned and conducted design trade studies. The discussion presented deals with these subjects and concludes with a brief look at some NASA capabilities which can support these technology studies.

Ryan, R. F.↗

Hydrodynamic effects in a misaligned radial face seal

Hydrodynamic effects in a flat seal having an angular misalignment are analyzed, taking into account the radial variation in seal clearance. An analytical solution for axial force, restoring moment, and transverse moment is presented that covers the whole range from zero to full angular misalignment. Both low pressure seals with cavitating flow and high pressure seals with full fluid film are considered. Strong coupling is demonstrated between angular misalignment and transverse moment which leads the misalignment vector by 90 degrees. This transverse moment, which is entirely due to hydrodynamic effects, is a significant factor in the seal operating mechanism.

Etsion, I.↗

Validation of scramjet exhaust simulation technique at Mach 6

Current design philosophy for hydrogen-fueled, scramjet-powered hypersonic aircraft results in configurations with strong couplings between the engine plume and vehicle aerodynamics. The experimental verification of the scramjet exhaust simulation is described. The scramjet exhaust was reproduced for the Mach 6 flight condition by the detonation tube simulator. The exhaust flow pressure profiles, and to a large extent the heat transfer rate profiles, were then duplicated by cool gas mixtures of Argon and Freon 13B1 or Freon 12. The results of these experiments indicate that a cool gas simulation of the hot scramjet exhaust is a viable simulation technique except for phenomena which are dependent on the wall temperature relative to flow temperature.

Hopkins, H. B.↗

Al-26 and the partial ionization of the solar nebula

It is shown that an even distribution of the amount of Al-26 equal to 10 to the minus tenth power of the amount of H (the amount of Al-26 suggested by scaling from cosmic abundances) will lead to a small but significant partial ionization of the nebular gas. Calculation of the ionization state and consequent magnetic Reynolds number for the solar nebula shows that the presence of Al-26 will result in strong coupling of the gas to magnetic fields. In the absence of Al-26, K-40 will still result in substantial ionization, but the degree of magnetic coupling is much more model dependent.

Consolmagno, G. J.↗

Hydrodynamic effects in a misaligned radial face seal

Hydrodynamic effects in a flat seal having an angular misalignment are analyzed, taking into account the radial variation in seal clearance. An analytical solution for axial force, restoring moment, and transverse moment is presented that covers the whole range from zero to full angular misalignment. Both low pressure seals with cavitating flow and high pressure seals with full fluid film are considered. Strong coupling is demonstrated between angular misalignment and transverse moment which leads the misalignment vector by 90 degrees. This transverse moment, which is entirely due to hydrodynamic effects, may be a significant factor in seal operating mechanism.

Etsion, I.↗

Structural tests on a tile/strain isolation pad thermal protection system

The aluminum skin of the space shuttle is covered by a thermal protection system (TPS) consisting of a low density ceramic tile bonded to a matted-felt material called strain insulation pad (SIP). The structural characteristics of the TPS were studied experimentally under selected extreme load conditions. Three basic types of loads were imposed: tension, eccentrically applied tension, and combined in-plane force and transverse pressure. For some tests, transverse pressure was applied rapidly to simulate a transient shock wave passing over the tile. The failure mode for all specimens involved separation of the tile from the SIP at the silicone rubber bond interface. An eccentrically applied tension load caused the tile to separate from the SIP at loads lower than experienced at failure for pure tension loading. Moderate in-plane as well as shock loading did not cause a measurable reduction in the TPS ultimate failure strength. A strong coupling, however, was exhibited between in-plane and transverse loads and displacements.

Williams, J. G.↗

Optical feedback effects on the performance of Pb/1-x/Sn/x/Se semiconductor lasers

The effects of optical feedback on the performance of Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Se semiconductor lasers are reported. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate that uncontrolled optical feedback can occur from optics external to the laser cavity and that these external optical elements can result in the formation of a composite cavity. This composite cavity can sustain a number of narrow closely spaced emission modes with the spectral characteristics of these modes dependent upon the parameters of the cavity. With weak feedback, the spectral width of the amplitude envelope of the new lasing modes resembles that of the original laser mode with no optical feedback. With strongly coupled feedback the envelope of the external cavity modes substantially broadens the apparent linewidth of the laser. It is shown that these effects can be eliminated, and, moreover, they offer the potential for obtaining spectrally narrow single-mode emission from Pb-salt lasers through the use of carefully designed external cavities.

Harward, C. N.↗

Performance of end-face seals with diametral tilt and coning - Hydrodynamic effects

Hydrodynamic effects in end-face seals with diametral tilt and coning are analyzed. A closed-form solution for the axial separating force and the restoring and transverse moments is presented that covers the whole range from zero to full angular misalignment at various degrees of coning. Both low-pressure seals with cavitating flow and high-pressure seals with full fluid film are considered. The effect of coning is to reduce the axial force and the restoring and transverse moments compared to their magnitude in flat-face seals. Strong coupling between diametral tilt and transverse moment is demonstrated. This transverse moment which is entirely due to hydrodynamic effects can be the source of dynamic instability in the form of seal wobble.

Sharoni, A.↗

Nonlinear stability of solar type III radio bursts. I - Theory

A theory of the excitation of solar type III bursts is presented. Electrons initially unstable to the linear bump-in-tail instability are shown to rapidly amplify Langmuir waves to energy densities characteristic of strong turbulence. The three-dimensional equations which describe the strong coupling (wave-wave) interactions are derived. For parameters characteristic of the interplanetary medium the equations reduce to one-dimension. In that case the oscillating two-stream instability (OTSI) is the dominant nonlinear instability. OTSI is stabilized through the production of nonlinear ion density fluctuations that efficiently scatter Langmuir waves out of resonance with the electron beam. An analytical model of the electron distribution function is also developed which is used to estimate the total energy losses suffered by the electron beam as it propagates from the solar corona to 1 AU and beyond.

Smith, R. A.↗

Effect of propellant deformation on ignition and combustion processes in solid propellant cracks

A comprehensive theoretical model was formulated to study the development of convective burning in a solid propellant crack which continually deforms due to burning and pressure loading. In the theoretical model, the effect of interrelated structural deformation and combustion processes was taken into account by considering (1) transient, one dimensional mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations in the gas phase; (2) a transient, one dimensional heat conduction equation in the solid phase; and (3) quasi-static deformation of the two dimensional, linear viscoelastic propellant crack caused by pressure loading. Partial closures may generate substantial local pressure peaks along the crack, implying a strong coupling between chamber pressurization, crack combustion, and propellant deformation, especially when the cracks are narrow and the chamber pressurization rates high. The maximum pressure in the crack cavity is generally higher than that in the chamber. The initial flame-spreading process is not affected by propellant deformation.

Kumar, M.↗

Surface solar ultraviolet radiation for paleoatmospheric levels of oxygen and ozone

Many investigators have concluded that the level of solar ultraviolet radiation (200-300 nm) reaching the surface was a key parameter in the origin and evolution of life on earth. The level of solar ultraviolet radiation between 200 and 300 nm is controlled primarily by molecular absorption by ozone, whose presence is strongly coupled to the level of molecular oxygen. In this paper, a series of calculations is presented of the solar ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface for oxygen levels ranging from 0.0001 the present atmospheric level to the present level. The solar spectrum between 200 and 300 nm has been divided into 34 spectral intervals. For each spectral interval, the solar ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth's surface has been calculated by considering the attenuation of the incoming beam due to ozone and oxygen absorption. A one-dimensional photochemical model of the atmosphere was used for these calculations.

Levine, J. S.↗

Low energy, left-right symmetry restoration in SO(N) GUTS

A general n step symmetry breaking pattern of SO(4K+2) down to SU sub C (3)xSU sub L (2)xU sub Y (1), which uses regular subgroups only, does not allow low energy left right symmetry restoration. In these theories, the smallest mass scale at which such restoration is possible is approximately one billion GeV as in the SO(10) case. The unification mass in SO(4K+2) GUTS must be at least as large as that in SU(5). These results assumed standard values of the Weinberg angle and strong coupling constant.

Holman, R.↗

Flight dynamics of rotorcraft in steep high-g turns

An analyticl procedure developed to permit a systematic examination of rotorcraft flight dynamics in steep high-g turns is presented. The procedure is used in a numerical investigation of a tilt-rotor aircraft and three single-rotor helicopters that have different types of main rotor systems. The results indicate (1) that strong coupling in longitudinal and lateral-directional motions exists for these rotorcraft in high-g turns; (2) that for single-rotor helicopters, the direction of turn has a significant influence on flight dynamics; and (3) that a stability and control augmentation system that is designed on the basis of standard small-disturbance equations of motion from steady straight and level flight and that otherwise performs satisfactorily in operations near 1 g, becomes significantly degraded in steep turning flight.

Chen, R. T. N.↗

Calculation of vortex flows on complex configurations

The calculation of aerodynamic characteristics of complex configurations having strongly coupled vortex flows is a non-linear problem requiring iterative solution techniques. This paper discusses the use of a low-order panel method as a means of obtaining practical solutions to such problems. The panel method is based on piecewise constant source and doublet quadrilateral panels and uses the internal Dirichlet boundary condition of zero perturbation potential. The problems of predicting vortex/surface interaction and vortex separation are discussed. Some example calculations are included but further test cases have yet to be carried out, in particular for comparisons with experimental data. The problem of convergence on the iterative calculation for the shape of the free vortex sheet is addressed and a preprocessor routine, based on an unsteady, two-dimensional version of the panel method, is put forward as a cost-effective way of generating an initial vortex structure for use as a starting solution for general configurations.

Maskew, B.↗

Laser induced asymmetry and inhomogeneous broadening of the microwave lineshape of a gas cell atomic frequency standard

The possibility of replacing the RF discharge lamp in a rubidium gas cell clock with a single mode laser diode is addressed. Since the short term stability of the rubidium frequency standard is limited by the shot noise of the photodetector, an increased signal-to-noise ratio due to more efficient laser diode optical pumping might improve the short term performance. Because the emission wavelength of the laser diode can be tuned, improved long term performance could be gained through the control of the light shift effect. However, due to the nature of the gas cell frequency standard, various physical phenomena are strongly coupled in their effect on the frequency output, and thus careful consideration must be given to any change in one parameter because of its interrelation with other parameters. Some investigations concerning the coupled effect of the optical and microwave fields in the rubidium atomic clock are reported. It is shown that this type of coupling is an important consideration for any attempt to incorporate a laser diode into a gas cell clock.

Camparo, J. C.↗