Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “EXPANSION”

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 1,099 records · Page 61

Thermal expansion mismatch and oxidation in thermal barrier coatings

Thermal barrier coatings (TBC) for advanced gas turbine blades have been under intensive development during the last several years. This investigation is intended to achieve a clearer understanding of the mechanical behavior of plasma sprayed zirconia-yttria TBCs, involving a nickle-chromium-aluminum bond coat. The near term objectives are to study the stress states in a relatively simple model TBC subjected to steady state thermal loading. The resulting thermal expansion mismatch and oxidation have been primary targets for the study. The finite element approach and the effects of thermal mismatch and oxidation are described. A proposed mechanism for oxidation induced coating failure is also presented.

Chang, G. C.↗

Spherical harmonic expansion of the Levitus Sea surface topography

Prior information for the stationary sea surface topography (SST) may be needed in altimetric solutions that intend to simultaneously improve the gravity field and determine the SST. For this purpose the oceanographically derived SST estimates are represented by a spherical harmonic expansion. The spherical harmonic coefficients are computed from a least squares adjustment of the data covering the majority of the oceanic regions of the world. Several tests are made to determine the optimum maximum degree of solution and the best configuration of the geometry of the data in order to obtain a solution that fits the data and also provides a good spectral representation of the SST.

Engelis, Theodossios↗

Vectoring Single Expansion Ramp Nozzle (VSERN) static model test program

A variable throat-area, side-vectoring single expansion ramp nozzle (VSERN) concept's internal performance characteristics are studied with a view to controlling the bypass flow of an unmixed turbofan engine. Static tests have been conducted on VSERN at NASA-Langley using a variety of parametric models giving attention to the effects of upstream bend angle, ramp geometry, area ratio, and nozzle pressure ratio on static thrust and flow performance. Advantages of VSERN over the conventional vectoring axisymmetric convergent side-nozzles typified by those of the Harrier's Pegasus engine.

Eames, D. J. H.↗

Relative ion expansion velocity in laser-produced plasmas

The spectra of highly ionized titanium, Ti XIII through Ti XXI, and C VI Lyman lines were excited in laser-produced plasmas. The plasma was produced by uniformly irradiating spherical glass microballoons coated with thin layers of titanium and parylene. The 24-beam Omega laser system produced short, 0.6 ns, and high-intensity, 4 x 10 to the 14th W/sq cm, laser pulses at a wavelength of 351 nm. The measured wavelength for the 2p-3s Ti XIII resonance lines had an average shift of + 0.023 A relative to the C VI and Ti XX spectral lines. No shift was found between the C VI, Ti XIX, and Ti XX lines. The shift is attributed to a Doppler effect, resulting from a difference of (2.6 + or - 0.2) x 10 to the 7th cm/s in the expansion velocities of Ti XIX and Ti XX ions compared to Ti XIII ions.

Goldsmith, S.↗

A comparative study of plasma expansion events in the polar wind

The temporal characteristics of the polar wind have been studied using a simplified set of collisionless equations and a full set of hydrodynamic equations which contained continuity, momentum, and energy equations for H(+), O(+), and electrons, including collisional conductivities and variable isotropic, ion and electron temperatures. The temporal evolution of the polar wind was modeled for initial, extended density depletions of factors of 3, 10, and 100 starting at several altitudes for each model. Comparison of the results from the two models showed the same temporal characteristics for the polar wind densities, flow velocities, and escape fluxes. The characteristics of plasma expansion are presented. It is found that the propagation velocities of the disturbance vary with the level of the depletion.

Gombosi, Tamas I.↗

Three-dimensional atmospheric entry problem using method of matched asymptotic expansions

The analysis of a three-dimensional atmospheric entry problem using the method of matched asymptotic expansions is considered. A composite solution is formed in terms of an outer solution, an inner solution and a common solution. The outer solution is obtained from the gravitationally dominant region, whereas the aerodynamically dominant region contributes to the inner solution. The common solution accounts for the overlap between the outer and inner regions. In comparison to previous work, this simplified methodology yields explicit analytical expressions for various components of the composite solution without resorting to any type of transcendental equations to be solved only by numerical methods.

Naidu, D. S.↗

On the expansion of ionospheric plasma into the near-wake of the Space Shuttle Orbiter

During the Spacelab 2 mission, while the Plasma Diagnostics Package was attached to the Remote Manipulator System, differential ion vector measurements were obtained in the near wake at a distance of 4-5 Shuttle radii. The Orbiter's wake was found to fill in at a much faster rate than can be explained by simple thermal motion. The measurements strongly suggest that filling of the Orbiter's wake is produced by the process of 'collisionless plasma expansion into a vacuum' and that, for oblique angles of the magnetic field and velocity vectors, the near wake plasma depletion a few radii downstream is not sensitive to the body scale size.

Stone, N. H.↗

Low-Thermal-Expansion Filled Polytetrafluoroethylene

PTFE made thermally compatible with aluminum without changing dielectric constant. Manufactured with fillers and pores to reduce coefficient of thermal expansion by factor of 6 to match aluminum. Material retains 2.1 dielectric constant of pure PTFE. Combines filler and micropore concepts. Particles and voids embedded in PTFE matrix function cooperatively. Particles take up compressive stress imposed by contracting PTFE, and voids take up expanding material. Increases dielectric constant, while voids reduce it.

Shapiro, Sanford S.↗

Static internal performance of convergent single-expansion-ramp nozzles with various combinations of internal geometric parameters

An investigation was conducted in the Static Test Facility of the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel to determine the effects of five geometric design parameters on the internal performance of convergent single expansion ramp nozzles. The effects of ramp chordal angle, initial ramp angle, flap angle, flap length, and ramp length were determined. All nozzles tested has a nominally constant throat area and aspect ratio. Static pressure distributions along the centerlines of the ramp and flap were also obtained for each configuration. Nozzle pressure ratio was varied up to 10.0 for all configurations.

Bare, E. Ann↗

Thermal expansion measurements of metal matrix composites

The laser-interferometric-dilatometer system currently operational at NASA-Langley is described. The system, designed to characterize metal matrix composites, features high precision, automated data acquisition, and the ability to test a wide variety of specimen geometries over temperature ranges within 80-422 K. The paper presents typical thermal-expansion measurement data for a Gr/Al rod; Gr/Al and Gr/Mg unidirectional laminates; and a Gr/Mg (+ or -8)s laminate.

Tompkins, Stephen S.↗

Spectral line profiles of nickel and argon in supernova 1987A - Expansion velocity and electron scattering effects

Spectra of SN 1987A showing the Ni II 6.634-micron and Ar II 6.983-micron fine-structure lines were obtained from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory in April 1988. The signal-to-noise ratio of 100 near the peaks and resolving power of 200 are sufficient to show the average velocity of expansion from the core of about 1400 km/s and to indicate the range of velocities. An asymmetry in the profiles of both lines and a redshift of the line centroids of about 440 km/s above the 280-km/s recessional velocity of the LMC can be explained in terms of scattering of the photons by electrons in the expanding hydrogen envelope of the supernova. A mass of 0.0030 solar masses of Ni II can be deduced from the line strength of the Ni II line and a mass of 0.0009 solar masses of Ar II from the Ar II line strength.

Witteborn, F. C.↗

Design and testing of thermal-expansion-molded graphite-epoxy hat-stiffened sandwich panels

Minimum weight configurations for two types of graphite-epoxy hat-stiffened compression-loaded panels fabricated by the thermal-expansion-molding (TEM) manufacturing process were evaluated analytically and experimentally for designs with load index Nx/L values ranging from 100 to 800. The two types of panels contain graphite-epoxy face sheets with a foam core and hat stiffeners which are either open or filled with foam. Constraints on the extensional and shear stiffnesses are imposed on the design so that the panels will satisfy typical constraints for aircraft wing structures. Optimal structurally efficient TEM panels are compared to commercially available aluminum aircraft structures. Predicted load-strain relationships agree well with experimental results. Significant impact damage to the unstiffened face sheet and foam core does not noticeably reduce the load carrying ability of the panels, but damage to the stiffened face sheet reduces the failure load by 20 percent compared to unimpacted panels.

Jegley, Dawn C.↗

On the method of matched asymptotic expansions

The present evaluation of the method of asymptotic expansions (MAE) indicates that the various terms of the common solution of MAE can be generated as polynomials in stretched variables, without actually solving them from the outer solution, as is currently the practice. It is also noted that the common solution of the MAE and the intermediate solution of the singular-perturbation method are the same; these methods therefore yield identical results for a certain class of problems. Two illustrative problems are treated.

Naidu, D. S.↗

Thermal expansion and elastic anisotropies of SiC as related to polytype structure

The concept of the fraction of hexagonal stacking is used to describe the anisotropic thermal expansion coefficients of polytypes of SiC. The single crystal elastic anisotropy for the SiC polytype structures and the temperature dependencies of the anisotropies are examined. The anisotropic thermoelastic stress index for the 3C and 6H SiC polytypes are illustrated graphically. It is shown that this index is useful for predicting the most desirable crystal growth orientations for SiC whisker incorporation into composite matrices.

Li, Z.↗

Prediction of coefficients of thermal expansion for unidirectional composites

Several analyses for predicting the longitudinal, alpha(1), and transverse, alpha(2), coefficients of thermal expansion of unidirectional composites were compared with each other, and with experimental data on different graphite fiber reinforced resin, metal, and ceramic matrix composites. Analytical and numerical analyses that accurately accounted for Poisson restraining effects in the transverse direction were in consistently better agreement with experimental data for alpha(2), than the less rigorous analyses. All of the analyses predicted similar values of alpha(1), and were in good agreement with the experimental data. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the relative influence of constituent properties on the predicted values of alpha(1), and alpha(2). As would be expected, the prediction of alpha(1) was most sensitive to longitudinal fiber properties and the prediction of alpha(2) was most sensitive to matrix properties.

Bowles, David E.↗

Core expansion in young star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The core radii of 18 rich star clusters in the LMC with ages from 10 Myr to 1 Gyr. Data for an additional 17 clusters with ages from 1 Myr to 10 Gyr are available in the literature. The combined sample shows that the core radii increase from about 0 to about 5 pc between about 1 Myr and 1 Gyr, and then begin to decrease again. The expansion of the cores is probably driven by mass loss from evolving stars. Models of cluster evolution show that the rate of increase in core radius is sensitive to the slope of the initial mass function. The observed core radius-age relation for the LMC clusters favors an intial mass function with slope slightly flatter than the Salpeter value.

Elson, Rebecca A. W.↗