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At least 1,153 records · Page 64

Comparison of hard X-ray spectra obtained by spectrometers on Hinotori and SMM and detection of 'superhot' component

Hard X-ray spectra in solar flares obtained by the broadband spectrometers aboard Hinotori and SMM are compared. Within the uncertainty brought about by assuming the typical energy of the background X-rays, spectra by the Hinotori spectrometer are usually consistent with those by the SMM spectrometer for flares in 1981. On the contrary, flares in 1982 persistently show 20-50-percent higher flux by Hinotori than by SMM. If this discrepancy is entirely attributable to errors in the calibration of energy ranges, the errors would be about 10 percent. Despite such a discrepancy in absolute flux, in the the decay phase of one flare, spectra revealed a hard X-ray component (probably a 'superhot' component) that could be explained neither by emission from a plasma at about 2 x 10 to the 7th K nor by a nonthermal power-law component. Imaging observations during this period show hard X-ray emission nearly cospatial with soft X-ray emission, in contrast with earlier times at which hard and soft X-rays come from different places.

Nitta, Nariaki↗

Identification of structural interface characteristics using component mode synthesis

The inability to adequately model connections has limited the ability to predict overall system dynamic response. Connections between structural components are often mechanically complex and difficult to accurately model analytically. Improved analytical models for connections are needed to improve system dynamic predictions. This study explores combining Component Mode synthesis methods for coupling structural components with Parameter Identification procedures for improving the analytical modeling of the connections. Improvements in the connection properties are computed in terms of physical parameters so the physical characteristics of the connections can be better understood, in addition to providing improved input for the system model. Two sample problems, one utilizing simulated data, the other using experimental data from a rotor dynamic test rig, are presented.

Huckelbridge, A. A.↗

Application of fracture mechanics and half-cycle theory to the prediction of fatigue life of aerospace structural components

The service life of aircraft structural components undergoing random stress cycling was analyzed by the application of fracture mechanics. The initial crack sizes at the critical stress points for the fatigue crack growth analysis were established through proof load tests. The fatigue crack growth rates for random stress cycles were calculated using the half-cycle method. A new equation was developed for calculating the number of remaining flights for the structural components. The number of remaining flights predicted by the new equation is much lower than that predicted by the conventional equation. This report describes the application of fracture mechanics and the half-cycle method to calculate the number of remaining flights for aircraft structural components.

Ko, William L.↗

Three-component laser Doppler velocimeter measurements in a juncture flow

A single-axis, five-beam, three-component laser velocimeter (LV) system was used in a major experiment. Satisfactory results were obtained with the LV system in the juncture flow. Limited optical access to the tunnel proved to be a problem for the three component LV system in determining the third component.

Kubendran, L. R.↗

High-temperature test facility at the NASA Lewis engine components research laboratory

The high temperature test facility (HTTF) at NASA-Lewis Engine Components Research Laboratory (ECRL) is presently used to evaluate the survivability of aerospace materials and the effectiveness of new sensing instrumentation in a realistic afterburner environment. The HTTF has also been used for advanced heat transfer studies on aerospace components. The research rig uses pressurized air which is heated with two combustors to simulate high temperature flow conditions for test specimens. Maximum airflow is 31 pps. The HTTF is pressure rated for up to 150 psig. Combustors are used to regulate test specimen temperatures up to 2500 F. Generic test sections are available to house test plates and advanced instrumentation. Customized test sections can be fabricated for programs requiring specialized features and functions. The high temperature test facility provides government and industry with a facility for testing aerospace components. Its operation and capabilities are described.

Colantonio, Renato O.↗

Design of ceramic components with the NASA/CARES computer program

The ceramics analysis and reliability evaluation of structures (CARES) computer program is described. The primary function of the code is to calculate the fast-fracture reliability or failure probability of macro-scopically isotropic ceramic components. These components may be subjected to complex thermomechanical loadings, such as those found in heat engine applications. CARES uses results from MSC/NASTRAN or ANSYS finite-element analysis programs to evaluate how inherent surface and/or volume type flaws component reliability. CARES utilizes the Batdorf model and the two-parameter Weibull cumulative distribution function to describe the effects of multiaxial stress states on material strength. The principle of independent action (PIA) and the Weibull normal stress averaging models are also included. Weibull material strength parameters, the Batdorf crack density coefficient, and other related statistical quantities are estimated from four-point bend bar or uniform uniaxial tensile specimen fracture strength data. Parameter estimation can be performed for a single or multiple failure modes by using a least-squares analysis or a maximum likelihood method. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Anderson-Darling goodness-to-fit-tests, 90 percent confidence intervals on the Weibull parameters, and Kanofsky-Srinivasan 90 percent confidence band values are also provided. Examples are provided to illustrate the various features of CARES.

Nemeth, Noel N.↗

Characterization of damped structural connections for multi-component systems

The inability to model connections adequately has historically limited the ability to predict overall system dynamic response. Connections between structural components are often mechanically complex and difficult to accurataely model analytically. Improved analytical models for connections are needed to improve system dynamic predictions. This study explores combining Component Mode Synthesis methods for coupling structural components with Parameter Identification procedures for improving the analytical modeling of the connections. Improvements in the connection stiffness and damping properties are computed in terms of physical parameters so the physical characteristics of the connections can be better understood, in addition to providing improved input for the system model.

Lawrence, Charles↗

Analysis of whisker-toughened ceramic components - A design engineer's viewpoint

The analysis of components fabricated from whisker-toughened ceramic matrix composites requires a departure from the 'factor-of-safety' design philosophy prevalent in the design of metallic structural component, which are more tolerant of flaws. A public-domain computer algorithm has been developed which, in conjunction with a general-purposed FEM program, can predict the fast-fracture reliability of a structural component under multiaxial loading conditions. The present version of the algorithm, designated 'Toughened Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures', accounts for material symmetry imposed by whisker orientation; the processes of crack deflection and crack pinning are also addressed.

Duffy, Stephen F.↗

A phase-space fluid simulation of a two-component narrow planetary ring - Particle size segregation, edge formation, and spreading rates

The Krook kinetic equation for identical planetary ring particles is presently generalized for the case of two-component systems, and the equations are numerically solved on the basis of Brophy and Esposito's (1989) phase-space CFD method. Attention is given to the simulation results obtained for a two-component narrow ring, in which the large particles are eight times as massive as the small particles. This ring's unconstrained edge dynamics are resolved by the simulation, and are found to exhibit a sharpening that would not have been expected in single-component rings.

Brophy, Thomas G.↗

Encoding Y,I,Q component estimates of an NTSC composite signal

Several new techniques for reducing the entropy of a Y,I,Q component digital transmission are presented. A discussion of each technique is presented along with objective and subjective analysis. For a set of four test pictures, the average Y,I,Q entropy/pixel was reduced by nearly 80 percent. An initial component system entropy of 11.08 bits/pixel was reduced to 2.33 bits/pixel. Although exact numeric results are dependent on the separation technique used, the methods presented may be applied to systems using other component separation methods.

Border, David A.↗

Boundary flexibility method of component mode synthesis using static Ritz vectors

A method of dynamic substructuring is presented which provides for the incorporation of a set of static Ritz vectors, referred to as boundary flexibility vectors, as a replacement and/or supplement to conventional eigenvectors in component mode synthesis. The suggested boundary flexibility Ritz vectors are generated by an extension of Wilson's load-dependent Ritz vector algorithm for transient dynamic analysis. The extended algorithm is not load-dependent, is applicable to both fixed-and free-interface components, and results in a general component mode synthesis model appropriate for any type of dynamic analysis.

Abdallah, A. A.↗

Simultaneous multivelocity component laser Doppler velocimetry using one digital frequency processor

Digital frequency processing used in conjunction with optical frequency shifting is an ideal way to achieve simultaneous multivelocity component measurements in laser Doppler velocimetry. This becomes obvious once realized that multivelocity component information at different frequency offsets can be obtained directly from the composite frequency spectrum of a single-channel digital frequency processor. The approach has numerous advantages over the very popular approach of using a different laser wavelength, photodetector, and signal processor for each velocity component.

Johnson, D. A.↗

Selection of component modes for the simulation of flexible multibody spacecraft

This paper describes a procedure for the selection of component modes employed in discretization of component deformation in a flexible multibody spacecraft. The emphasis is placed on the selection of modes which adequately represent the interaction of the various on-board control systems with the vehicle structural flexibility. The method combines the component mode synthesis approaches of Craig-Bampton (1968), MacNeal (1971) and Rubin (1975), and Benfield-Hruda (1971) with the modal balancing method of Moore (1981) and Gregory (1984). The procedure, which is applicable to both articulating and nonarticulating systems, was used to develop a low-order model of the three-body articulating Galileo spacecraft.

Spanos, John T.↗

Is the 'superhot' hard X-ray component in solar flares consistent with a thermal source?

It has been shown by Brown and Emslie (1988) that any optically thin thermal bremsstrahlung source must emit an energy spectrum L(epsilon)(keV/s per keV) which has the property that higher derivatives alternate in sign. In this short note, this test is applied to the 'superhot' component discussed by Lin et al. (1981) in order to determine whether a strictly thermal interpretation of this component is valid. All statistically significant higher derivatives do indeed have the correct sign; this strengthens the identification of this component as due to a thermal source.

Emslie, A. Gordon↗

Perceptual-components architecture for digital video

A perceptual-components architecture for digital video partitions the image stream into signal components in a manner analogous to that used in the human visual system. These components consist of achromatic and opponent color channels, divided into static and motion channels, further divided into bands of particular spatial frequency and orientation. Bits are allocated to an individual band in accord with visual sensitivity to that band and in accord with the properties of visual masking. This architecture is argued to have desirable features such as efficiency, error tolerance, scalability, device independence, and extensibility.

Watson, Andrew B.↗

Development of components for submillimeter wave heterodyne radiometers at JPL

Components for the key elements of submillimeter wave heterodyne receivers are described. The devices and components are inherently space qualifiable having low power and mass needs and exhibiting robustness. Nb and NbN superconductor insulator superconductor (SIS) tunnel junctions are selected for the nonlinear mixing element because of their robustness. NbN exhibits a large superconducting bandgap, allowing operation in excess of 1500 GHz. Both waveguide mounts, for the lower frequencies and planar antenna mixer mounts for the higher frequency range, are used. Quasi-optical components are used for frequency multiplexing and combining.

Frerking, Margaret A.↗

Component mode damping assignment techniques

A relation between the system modal damping matrix and the component modal damping matrix is derived from First Principles. An optimization problem is then formulated to select all the component modes' damping ratios that best satisfy the above derived relation. A weighting matrix is used in the cost functional to stress the relative importance of the diagonal terms in the damping matrix. Inequality constraints are also added to the optimization problem to pick only nonnegative component modes' damping factors. The optimization problem may be solved algebraically or iteratively. The proposed techniques are successfully used on a high order, finite element model of the Galileo spacecraft.

Lee, Allan Y.↗

Component technology for stirling power converters

NASA Lewis Research Center has organized a component technology program as part of the efforts to develop Stirling converter technology for space power applications. The Stirling Space Power Program is part of the NASA High Capacity Power Project of the Civil Space Technology Initiative (CSTI). NASA Lewis is also providing technical management for the DOE/Sandia program to develop Stirling converters for solar terrestrial power producing electricity for the utility grid. The primary contractors for the space power and solar terrestrial programs develop component technologies directly related to their goals. This Lewis component technology effort, while coordinated with the main programs, aims at longer term issues, advanced technologies, and independent assessments. An overview of work on linear alternators, engine/alternator/load interactions and controls, heat exchangers, materials, life and reliability, and bearings is presented.

Thieme, Lanny G.↗