Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “surface conditioning”

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 1,135 records · Page 63

Boundary lubrication of formulated C-ethers in air to 300 C

Six C-ether formulations (containing organic acid and phosphorus ester additives) were tested in dry (less than 100 ppm H2O) and moist air (relative humidity 50 percent at 25 C) and temperatures from 25 to 300 C, in order to determine the boundary lubricating characteristics and to compare these results to those obtained with a fully formulated Type II ester and the unformulated C-ether base fluid. The apparatus, procedures and detailed results of the test are described. Friction and wear measurements were made on CVM M-50 steel under 1 kg load and 17 meter per minute (100 rpm) surface speed conditions, for a duration of 25 minutes. In general, the C-ether formulations exhibited higher friction coefficients than the ester from 150 to 300 C and similar or lower values from 25 to 150 C, furthermore, in most test conditions the C-ether base fluid and the six C-ether formulations yielded lower wear than the ester. Possible applications in the aerospace industry are mentioned.

Jones, W. R., Jr.↗

High-temperature heating array

Heating array for thermally conditioning reusable surface insulation panels of thermal protection systems is capable of heating samples to 2500 F at pressures ranging from 0.5 to 760 torr. System uses low cost, easily replaceable graphite heating elements, which give more uniform heating than quartz lamps.

Christensen, H. E.↗

RAXBOD: A FORTRAN program for inviscid transonic flow over axisymmetric bodies

A program called RAXBOD is presented for the analysis of steady, inviscid, irrotational, transonic flow over axisymmetric bodies in free air. The method solves the exact equation for the disturbance velocity potential function and applies the exact surface boundary condition. Instructions on program usage and listings of the program and sample cases are given.

Keller, J. D.↗

Results of soil moisture flights during April 1974

The results presented here are derived from measurements made during the April 5 and 6, 1974 flights of the NASA P-3A aircraft over the Phoenix, Arizona agricultural test site. The purpose of the mission was to study the use of microwave techniques for the remote sensing of soil moisture. These results include infrared (10-to 12 micrometers) 2.8-cm and 21-cm brightness temperatures for approximately 90 bare fields. These brightness temperatures are compared with surface measurements of the soil moisture made at the time of the overflights. These data indicate that the combination of the sum and difference of the vertically and the horizontally polarized brightness temperatures yield information on both the soil moisture and surface roughness conditions.

Schmugge, T. J.↗

Friction characteristics of 20 x 4.4, type 7, aircraft tires constructed with different tread rubber compounds

A test program was conducted at the Langley aircraft landing loads and traction facility to evaluate the friction characteristics of 20 x 4.4, type, aircraft tires constructed with experimental cut-resistant, tread rubber compounds. These compounds consisted of different blends of natural rubber (NR) and an alfin catalyzed styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber (SBR). One tire having a blend of 30 SBR and 70 NR and another having a blend of 60 SBR and 40 NR in the tread were tested together with a standard production tire with no SBR content in the tread rubber. The results of this investigation indicated that the test tires constructed with the special cut-resistant tread rubber compositions did not suffer any significant degradation in tire friction capability when compared with the standard tire. In general, tire friction capability decreased with increasing speed and surface wetness condition. As yaw angle increased, tire braking capability decreased while tire cornering capability increased. Tread-wear data based on number of brake cycles, however, suggested that the tires with alfin SBR blends experienced significantly greater wear than the standard production tire.

Dreher, R. C.↗

Computation of the inviscid supersonic flow about cones at large angles of attack by a floating discontinuity approach

The technique of floating shock fitting is adapted to the computation of the inviscid flowfield about circular cones in a supersonic free stream at angles of attack that exceed the cone half-angle. The resulting equations are applicable over the complete range of free-stream Mach numbers, angles of attack and cone half-angles for which the bow shock is attached. A finite difference algorithm is used to obtain the solution by an unsteady relaxation approach. The bow shock, embedded cross-flow shock, and vortical singularity in the leeward symmetry plane are treated as floating discontinuities in a fixed computational mesh. Where possible, the flowfield is partitioned into windward, shoulder, and leeward regions with each region computed separately to achieve maximum computational efficiency. An alternative shock fitting technique which treats the bow shock as a computational boundary is developed and compared with the floating-fitting approach. Several surface boundary condition schemes are also analyzed.

Daywitt, J.↗

A numerical method for the exact calculation of airloads associated with impulsively started wings

A numerical method is developed to calculate three-dimensional potential flows due to the steady and impulsive motion of isolated wing and wing-wing interaction problems. The velocity potential is represented by a discrete set of constant-doublet quadrilaterals on wing and wake surfaces. The exact surface boundary condition is enforced, and the solution is obtained in a step-by-step fashion, configurations being impulsively started from rest. Free-wake geometries are generated for each time step with Rankine or Lamb viscous vortex segments used in wake-velocity calculations. Sample results include calculated performance to steady state for a thick wing and indicial lift of a wing-wing interaction problem.

Summa, J. M.↗

A simplified theory of oscillating airfoils in transonic flow - Review and extension

Significant old and new results are presented to show to what extent a simplified theory for transonic flow may be used. Solutions are obtained by classical techniques and compared with experiment. Results are given for two-dimensional, steady and unsteady flow and three-dimensional, steady flow. The effects of flow separation and improvements in Bernoulli's equations and the surface boundary condition are also briefly discussed.

Dowell, E. H.↗

Unsteady loads due to propulsive lift configurations. Part A: Investigation of scaling laws

This study covered scaling laws, and pressure measurements made to determine details of the large scale jet structure and to verify scaling laws by direct comparison. The basis of comparison was a test facility at NASA Langley in which a JT-15D exhausted over a boilerplater airfoil surface to reproduce upper surface blowing conditions. A quarter scale model was built of this facility, using cold jets. A comparison between full scale and model pressure coefficient spectra, presented as functions of Strouhal numbers, showed fair agreement, however, a shift of spectral peaks was noted. This was not believed to be due to Mach number or Reynolds number effects, but did appear to be traceable to discrepancies in jet temperatures. A correction for jet temperature was then tried, similar to one used for far field noise prediction. This was found to correct the spectral peak discrepancy.

Morton, J. B.↗

Investigation of remote sensing techniques as inputs to operational resource management

The author has identified the following significant results. Visual interpretation of 1:125,000 color LANDSAT prints produced timely level 1 maps of accuracies in excess of 80% for agricultural land identification. Accurate classification of agricultural land via digital analysis of LANDSAT CCT's required precise timing of the date of data collection with mid to late June optimum for western South Dakota. The LANDSAT repetitive nine day cycle over the state allowed the surface areas of stockdams and small reservoir systems to be monitored to provide a timely approximation of surface water conditions on the range. Combined use of DIRS, K-class, and LANDSAT CCT's demonstrated the ability to produce aspen maps of greater detail and timeliness than was available using US Forest Service maps. Visual temporal analyses of LANDSAT imagery improved highway map drainage information and were used to prepare a seven county drainage network. An optimum map of flood-prone areas was developed, utilizing high altitude aerial photography and USGS maps.

Schmer, F. A.↗

Atmospheric model development in support of SEASAT. Volume 4: Forecast model sensitivity study

Atmospheric analysis and prediction models of varying (grid) resolution were developed. The models were tested using real observational data for the purpose of assessing the impact of grid resolution on short range numerical weather prediction. The work statement was amended to include the performance of sensitivity tests using a coarse mesh (63 x 63 x 5 level) prediction model in order to identify and order factors which might mask or impair the utility of SEASAT data on short range weather prediction. Such factors included: initial conditions; topography; surface friction; latent heating; diffusion of momentum and temperature; and computational devices such as tendency truncators, pressure smoothers, and temporal filters.

Lewit, H. L.↗

Boundary-value problem of configurations with compressible free vortex flow

A self-consistent version of the compressible boundary-value problem for configurations with leading-edge vortex separation is formulated, based on the assumption that the compressible flow field is controlled by the linearized potential equation. The stream surface boundary condition and the zero pressure jump condition of the compressible free vortex flows are analyzed; application of the Goethert rule permits the compressible nonlinear boundary-value problem for the subsonic flow domain to be transformed into an equivalent nonlinear incompressible problem. The compressibility corrections developed are used in numerical calculations of subsonic leading-edge vortex flows about planar wing geometries. The sample calculations, employing an inviscid flow model in which the wing and vortex sheets are represented by piecewise continuous quadratic doublet sheet distributions, are applicable to high subsonic Mach numbers.

Brune, G. W.↗

Investigation of models for large-scale meteorological prediction experiments

The feasibility of long-range weather prediction through the use of global general circulation models (GCMs) was investigated. A climate model was developed to simulate the monthly mean state of the atmosphere from real global initial data at the beginning of the month. The model contains the same dynamic and physical ingredients as most numerical weather prediction models and GCMs. The model generates a one-day global simulation on the 8 x 10 grid in four minutes (on an IBM 360/95 computer), so that a 30 day forecast can be executed in two hours. The high speed of the model is achieved mainly at the price of its coarse resolution, which requires certain parameterizations of surface boundary conditions, as well as inherent filtering of smaller-scale features of the initial state.

Spar, J.↗

Inviscid transonic flow over axisymmetric bodies

Axisymmetric transonic flow is of interest not only because of its practical application to missile and launch vehicle aerodynamics but also because of its relation, in terms of area rule, to fully three dimensional flow. RAXBOD computer program analyzes steady, inviscid, irrotational, transonic flow over axisymmetric bodies in free air. RAXBOD uses finite-difference relaxation method to solve numerically exact formulation of disturbance velocity potential with exact surface boundary conditions. Agreement with available experimental results has been good in cases where viscous effects and wind-tunnel wall interference are not important.

South, J. C., Jr.↗

Stabilizing platinum in phosphoric acid fuel cells

The cathode of the phosphoric acid fuel cell uses a high surface area platinum catalyst supported on a carbon substrate. During operation, the small platinum crystallites sinter, causing loss in cell performance. A support was developed that stabilizes platinum in the high surface area condition by retarding or preventing the sintering process. The approach is to form etch pits in the carbon by oxidizing the carbon in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst, remove the metal oxide by an acid wash, and then deposit platinum in these pits. Results confirm the formation of etch pits in each of the three supports chosen for investigation: Vulcan XC-72R, Vulcan XC-72 that was graphized at 2500 C, and Shawinigan Acetylene Black.

Remick, R. J.↗

Fracture analysis of HPOTP bearing balls

The fracture analysis conducted on four HPOTP (High Pressure Oxygen Turbopump) bearing balls from the SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) is described. Nondestructive evaluation, optical microscopy, and transmission microscopy techniques were used in the analysis. The cracks are initiated at or close to the ball surface under conditions of high cyclic stresses and high coefficient of friction. The cracks lead to spalls and subsequent crack propagation occurs by fatigue mode under concentrated loading of cyclic nature.

Bhat, B. N.↗

A simplified theory of oscillating aerofoils in transonic flow - Review and extension

A simplified theory of the dynamic motion of aerofoils of finite thickness in transonic flow is presented which excludes the effect of shock waves on the aerofoil itself and, thus, is restricted to free stream Mach numbers equal to unity or above. Numerical examples are analyzed for two-dimensional steady and unsteady (including transient) aerofoil motion and three-dimensional steady and unsteady flow over delta wings. The effects of flow separation and improvements in Bernoulli's equation and the surface boundary condition are briefly discussed.

Dowell, E. H.↗

The salts of Mars

Salt compounds are apparently an important component of the fine-grained regolith on Mars. Salt enrichment may be explained either as a secondary concentration of chemical weathering products or as direct incorporation of planetary released volatiles. Geochemical measurements and chemical relationships constrain the salt species and resultant physicochemical consequences. A likely assemblage is dominated by (Mg,Na)SO4, NaCl, and (Mg,Ca)CO3. Formation of brine in equilibrium with such a salt mixture is unlikely under the temperature and water-vapor restrictions prevalent over most, if not all, of the Martian surface. Acidic conditions, accompanying salt formation, favor the preferential destruction of susceptible igneous minerals.

Clark, B. C.↗