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At least 1,081 records · Page 60

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Wetting and Multilayer Adsorption

The recent work with partially miscible binary liquid mixtures has established that the structure of the liquid-vapor interface can undergo a first-order phase transition from incomplete to complete wetting of the vapor as the temperature is raised. A discontinuity in the change of interfacial tension as a function of temperature at the phase transition has been predicted to occur in many systems and to play an important role in the growth of uniform composites from alloy melts at monotectic points. These measurements are the first to establish the order of the transition. Studies of capillary rise in SF6 in a unique interferometer have led to the first measurements of the thickness of wetting layers (or equivalently, multilayer adsorbed films) on a solid surface near a liquid-vapor critical point. Instabilities in wetting layers were observed. A theory for the instabilities is being developed and will be checked by both static and dynamic optical experiments. The effect of gravity on the apparent thickness of interfaces (as measured by ellipsometry) is under study.

Moldover, M. R.↗

Response time for multilayered platinum resistance thermometers

Response time constants for several multilayered temperature transducers were determined numerically by using Martin Marietta's MITAS software package which is available at NASA Langley Research Center. Present results were found in close agreement with the solutions reported in the literature, thus, the capability of MITAS was justified. On the basis of experiences gained, the MITAS is recommended for use in predicting the response time constants of sensors by an in-situ technique.

Pandey, D. K.↗

Influence of process parameter variation on the reflectivity of sputter-deposited W-C multilayer diffraction gratings

Multilayer W-C diffraction gratings with nominal d spacings of 35 A have been fabricated by magnetron sputter deposition. The peak and integrated reflectivities of these films have been measured with Al K-alpha X-rays and compared to theoretical values. The rms surface roughness has been evaluated. The influence of several sputtering-system process parameters on the reflectivities has been investigated.

Sager, B.↗

Construction of a multilayered X-ray telescope for solar coronal studies from space

The construction and testing of soft x-ray Ritchey-Chretien aplanatic telescope which is to be flown on a NASA sounding rocket in 1986 for very high resolution studies of the solar corona are discussed. Goals include figuring, polishing and measuring the mirror surfaces to tolerances exceding the 5000 A wavelength diffraction limit while achieving a superpolished surface finish, and the development of a structural design to withstand the rigors of the launch. Multilayer coatings are used to achieve usable reflectivity in the soft X-ray regime, and the design goal is for spatial resolution of 1/4 sec. Future applications are discussed.

Golub, L.↗

Climate warming due to increasing atmospheric CO2 - Simulations with a multilayer coupled atmosphere-ocean seasonal energy balance model

The transient response of the climate to increasing CO2 is studied using a modified version of the multilayer energy balance model of Peng et al. (1982). The main characteristics of the model are described. Latitudinal and seasonal distributions of planetary albedo, latitude-time distributions of zonal mean temperatures, and latitudinal distributions of evaporation, water vapor transport, and snow cover generated from the model and derived from actual observations are analyzed and compared. It is observed that in response to an atmospheric doubling of CO2, the model reaches within 1/e of the equilibrium response of global mean surface temperature in 9-35 years for the probable range of vertical heat diffusivity in the ocean. For CO2 increases projected by the National Research Council (1983), the model's transient response in annually and globally averaged surface temperatures is 60-75 percent of the corresponding equilibrium response, and the disequilibrium increases with increasing heat diffusivity of the ocean.

Li, Peng↗

Wetting, multilayer adsorption, and interface phase transitions

When two fluid phases coexist near their mutual critical point, one fluid phase forms a layer which intrudes between the other fluid phase and any third phase that happens to be present. As the two fluid phases are taken away from their critical point, a phase transition often occurs such that the intruding layer vanishes. Recent evidence is presented that the transition from the complete wetting (intruding layer) configuration to the incomplete wetting (three-phase contact) configuration is a first-order phase transition. The thickness of the intruding layers has been measured for diverse systems. These data are not fully understood. The intruding layers are extreme examples of multilayer adsorption. Certain theories predict that a 'prewetting' transition from high adsorption to low adsorption is associated with the transition from complete wetting to incomplete wetting. Present search for this transition is inconclusive.

Moldover, M. R.↗

Detection of bondline delaminations in multilayer structures with lossy components

The detection of bondline delaminations in multilayer structures using ultrasonic reflection techniques is a generic problem in adhesively bonded composite structures such as the Space Shuttles's Solid Rocket Motors (SRM). Standard pulse echo ultrasonic techniques do not perform well for a composite resonator composed of a resonant layer combined with attenuating layers. Excessive ringing in the resonant layer tends to mask internal echoes emanating from the attenuating layers. The SRM is made up of a resonant steel layer backed by layers of adhesive, rubber, liner and fuel, which are ultrasonically attenuating. The structure's response is modeled as a lossy ultrasonic transmission line. The model predicts that the acoustic response of the system is sensitive to delaminations at the interior bondlines in a few narrow frequency bands. These predictions are verified by measurements on a fabricated system. Successful imaging of internal delaminations is sensitive to proper selection of the interrogating frequency. Images of fabricated bondline delaminations are presented based on these studies.

Madaras, Eric I.↗

Multilayer X-ray imaging systems

An assessment of the imaging properties of multilayer X-ray imaging systems with spherical surfaces has been made. A ray trace analysis was performed to investigate the effects of using spherical substrates (rather than the conventional paraboloidal/hyperboloidal contours) for doubly reflecting Cassegrain telescopes. These investigations were carried out for mirrors designed to operate at selected soft X-ray/XUV wavelengths that are of significance for studies of the solar corona/transition region from the Stanford/MSFC Rocket X-Ray Telescope. The effects of changes in separation of the primary and secondary elements were also investigated. These theoretical results are presented as well as the results of ray trace studies to establish the resolution and vignetting effects as a function of field angle and system parameters.

Shealy, David L.↗

Closed-form analysis for elastic deformations of multilayered strands

Closed-form solutions are developed for elastic deformation characteristics of multilayered strands under tensile and torsional loads. These analytical results are successfully applied to obtain expressions for the effective extensional and torsional moduli of rigidity for the strands. Finally, a simple design criterion is established for 'nonrotating' cables.

Kumar, K.↗

Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry - Application to GaAs-AlGaAs multilayer homogeneity characterization

Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry has been applied to a GaAs-AlGaAs multilayer structure to obtain a three-dimensional characterization, using repetitive measurements at several spots on the same sample. The reproducibility of the layer thickness measurements is of order 10 A, while the lateral dimension is limited by beam diameter, presently of order 1 mm. Thus, the three-dimensional result mainly gives the sample homogeneity. In the present case three spots were used to scan the homogeneity over 1 in of a wafer which had molecular-beam epitaxially grown layers. The thickness of the AlGaAs, GaAs, and oxide layers and the Al concentration varied by 1 percent or less from edge to edge. This result was confirmed by two methods of data analysis. No evidence of an interfacial layer was observed on top of the AlGaAs.

Alterovitz, Samuel A.↗

Modal attenuation in multilayered coated waveguides

Propagation and attenuation constants of low-order normal modes in a circular waveguide lined with lossy coating layers are calculated using a generalized dispersion equation. It is found that the use of multilayered coating can significantly enhance modal attenuations over a broader frequency range compared to that for a single-layer coated structure. For a cylinder with radius a = 2 lambda, the attenuation constants for the dominant modes are shown to increase by 20 dB per a by adding a lossless padding layer to a lossy magnetic coating. Application of this result in radar cross-section (RCS) reduction is discussed.

Chou, Ri-Chee↗

Nondestructive Inspection Of Foam And Multilayer Insulations

Techniques and equipment enable nondestructive inspection of sprayed-on foam and multilayer reflecting thermal insulations on metallic substrates. Technology is applied in factories and laboratories; to inspect insulation on cryogenic tanks and pipes. Equipment includes probe head, several electronic modules that take measurements via electromagnetic and electrostatic sensors in probe head, small computer to store and process signals from modules, and printer.

Krause, Dennis R.↗

Soft X-ray/extreme ultraviolet images of the solar atmosphere with normal incidence multilayer optics

High-resolution images of the sun in the soft-X-ray/XUV range have been obtained with normal-incidence multilayer coated optics (MCOs) during a sounding-rocket flight on October 23, 1987 from White Sands. MCOs were used in two Cassegrain telescopes, as off-axis primary mirrors, and as tertiary mirrors operating with a Wolter-Schwarzschild (WS) grazing-incidence mirror. The inherent energy-selective property of MCOs allowed distinct groups of emission lines to be isolated in the solar corona and the transition region. Images were recorded at 173 and 256 A with the Cassegrain telescopes, at 256 A with a Herschelian telescope, and at 44, 173, and 256 A with the WS hybrid telescope. In addition, soft-X-ray images in the 8-18-A bandpass were obtained at the prime focus of the WS optics. The images show many features of the solar corona and transition region, including magnetically confined loops of hot solar plasma, coronal plumes, polar coronal holes, supergranulation, and features associated with overlying cool prominences.

Lindblom, Joakim F.↗

Characterization of multilayer GaAs/AlGaAs transistor structures by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry

Variable angle of incidence spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) has been implemented as a means of determining layer thickness, alloy composition, and growth quality of GaAs/AlGaAs samples composed of relatively thick layers as well as superlattices. The structures studied in this work contained GaAs/AlGaAs multilayers with a superlattice 'barrier' and were grown for later formation of modulation-doped field effect transistors (MODFETs). Sample modeling was performed by treating the superlattice as a bulk AlGaAs layer of unknown composition. Extremely good data fits were realized when five layer thicknesses and two alloy ratios were allowed to vary in a regression analysis. Room temperature excitonic effects associated with the e-hh(1), e-lh(1) and e-hh(2) transitions were observed in the VASE data.

Merkel, Kenneth G.↗

Composite multilayer insulations for thermal protection of aerospace vehicles

Composite flexible multilayer insulation systems (MLI), consisting of alternating layers of metal foil and scrim cloth or insulation quilted together using ceramic thread, were evaluated for thermal performance and compared with a silica fibrous (baseline) insulation system. The systems studied included: (1) alternating layers of aluminoborosilicate (ABS) scrim cloth and stainless steel foil, with silica, ABS, or alumina insulation; (2) alternating layers of scrim cloth and aluminum foil, with silica or ABS insulation; (3) alternating layers of alumininum foil and silica or ABS insulation; and (4) alternating layers of aluminum-coated polyimide placed on the bottom of the silica insulation. The MLIs containing aluminum were the most efficient, measuring as little as half the backface temperature increase of the baseline system.

Kourtides, D. A.↗

Generalized pulse equations for through-transmission evaluation of arbitrary multilayered structures

Generalized transit time and pulse amplitude equations were derived for modelling the ultrasonic through-transmission wave propagation of an arbitrary n-layered structure. The equations can be programmed into an expert system and used to identify and predict the through-transmission pulse signals from the critical interfaces of a multilayered structure. To test the formulas, the through transmission was measured from one- and three-layered configurations in the laboratory. The experimental measurements were compared with computer-generated data determined using the derived equations. The results verify the validity of the formulas.

Chern, E. James↗

Composite multilayer insulations for thermal protection of aerospace vehicles

Composite flexible multilayer insulation systems (MLI), consisting of alternating layers of metal foil and scrim cloth or insulation quilted together using ceramic thread, were evaluated for thermal performance and compared with a silica fibrous (baseline) insulation system. The systems studied included: (1) alternating layers of aluminoborosilicate (ABS) scrim cloth and stainless steel foil, with silica, ABS, or alumina insulation; (2) alternating layers of scrim cloth and aluminum foil, with silica or ABS insulation; (3) alternating layers of aluminum foil and silica or ABS insulation; and (4) alternating layers of aluminum-coated polyimide placed on the bottom of the silica insulation. The MLIs containing aluminum were the most efficient, measuring as little as half the backface temperature increase of the baseline system.

Kourtides, Demetrius A.↗

Assessment of computational models for multilayered anisotropic plates

The accuracy of the static and vibrational responses of multilayer anisotropic plates, predicted by eight modeling approaches based on two-dimensional shear-deformation theories, was investigated as a function of the lamination and geometric parameters of the shells. The models used included two-dimensional global approximation models, two-dimensional discrete-layer models, and predictor-corrector models. It is shown that the accuracy of the stress and vibrational responses predicted by the different models is strongly dependent on the significance of the transverse shear deformations.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗