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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.

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At least 1,207 records · Page 67
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Development of the platelet micro-orifice injector

For some time to come, liquid rocket engines will continue to provide the primary means of propulsion for space transportation. The injector represents a key to the optimization of engine and system performance. The present investigation is concerned with a unique injector design and fabrication process which has demonstrated performance capabilities beyond that achieved with more conventional approaches. This process, which is called the 'platelet process', makes it feasible to fabricate injectors with a pattern an order of magnitude finer than that obtainable by drilling. The fine pattern leads to an achievement of high combustion efficiencies. Platelet injectors have been identified as one of the significant technology advances contributing to the feasibility of advanced dual-fuel booster engines. Platelet injectors are employed in the Space Shuttle Orbit Maneuvering System (OMS) engines. Attention is given to injector design theory as it relates to pattern fineness, a description of platelet injectors, and test data obtained with three different platelet injectors.

La Botz, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

SAMSI: An orbiting spatial interferometer for micro-arc second astronomical observations

The concept and performance of (SAMSI) Spacecraft Array for Michelson Spatial Interferometry, an orbiting spatial interferometer comprised of three free-flying spacecraft, two collector telescopes and a central mixing station are described. In the one-dimensional interferometry mode orbits exist which provide natural scanning of the baseline. These orbits place extremely small demands on thrusters and fuel consumption. Resolution of 0.00001 arcsecond and magnitude limits of mv = 15 to 20 are achievable in a single orbit. In the imaging mode, SAMSI could synthesize images equivalent to those produced by equal diameter filled apertures in space, making use of the fuel resupply capability of a space station. Simulations indicate that image reconstruction can be performed with milliarcsecond resolution to a visual magnitude 12 in 12 hr of spiral scanning integration time.

Stachnik, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1986

An economical semi-analytical orbit theory for micro-computer applications

An economical algorithm is presented for predicting the position of a satellite perturbed by drag and zonal harmonics J2 through J4. Simplicity being of the essence, drag is modeled as a secular decay rate in the semimajor axis (retarded motion) with the zonal perturbations modeled from a modified version of Brouwers formulas. The algorithm is developed as an alternative on-board orbit predictor; a back up propagator requiring low energy consumption; or a ground based propagator for microcomputer applications (e.g., at the foot of an antenna). An O(J2) secular retarded state partial matrix (matrizant) is also given to employ with state estimation. The theory has been implemented in BASIC on an inexpensive microcomputer, the program occupying under 8K bytes of memory. Simulated trajectory data and real tracking data are employed to illustrate the theory's ability to accurately accommodate oblateness and drag effects.

Gordon, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Manufacturing polymer thin films in a micro-gravity environment

This project represents Venezuela's first scientific experiment in space. The apparatus for the automatic casting of two polymer thin films will be contained in NASA's Payload No. G-559 of the Get Away Special program for a future orbital space flight in the U.S. Space Shuttle. Semi-permeable polymer membranes have important applications in a variety of fields, such as medicine, energy, and pharmaceuticals and in general fluid separation processes, such as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and electrodialysis. The casting of semi-permeable membranes in space will help to identify the roles of convection in determining the structure of these membranes.

Vera, Ivan↗
NASA NTRS1987

A micro-computer-based system to compute magnetic variation

A mathematical model of magnetic variation in the continental United States was implemented in the Ohio University Loran-C receiver. The model is based on a least squares fit of a polynomial function. The implementation on the microprocessor based Loran-C receiver is possible with the help of a math chip which performs 32 bit floating point mathematical operations. A Peripheral Interface Adapter is used to communicate between the 6502 based microcomputer and the 9511 math chip. The implementation provides magnetic variation data to the pilot as a function of latitude and longitude. The model and the real time implementation in the receiver are described.

Kaul, Rajan↗
NASA NTRS1987

Micro-focus X-ray imaging

The acceptance of surface mounting in the electronics industry has been slowed by problems with component availability, electrical testing, and inspection. Industry suppliers and users have been working to solve these problems, and they are easing. Component manufacturers are offering substantially more devices in surface mountable packages. Automated test equipment vendors are offering test fixtures for surface mount circuit boards. And just recently, solder connection inspection has been automated through a partership effort with a major electronics manufacturer. The results achieved in this effort are presented.

Juha, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1987

Micro and macro approaches to tough polymers for composites

The progress to date on the development of techniques to toughen continuous thermoplastic composites is summarized. The work, using the approach of toughening the polycarbonate composite matrix with rubber particles, has focused on determining the differences between Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) samples molded inhouse and those molded by NASA. Specifically, an effort was made to account for the differences in fracture toughness observed between the various specimens. In addition, preliminary results of tensile dilatometry tests are described; these tests suggest that processes leading to increased volume and enhanced shear banding are occurring within the rubber toughened system. The results of the effort using another approach, the preparation of random block copolycarbonates, are presented. The synthetic route to these species was modified so that higher molecular weights of these materials can be obtained. In addition, an attempt is being made to determine the exact block length or the number of functional groups in the oligomers since this procedure also should lead to high molecular weight materials. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the copolymer prepared so far indicates that the scale of cooperative molecular motion of the PBA polycarbonate at sub-Tg temperatures is larger than five monomer units. Efforts to find a suitable rubber-toughener for a thermoset system (bismaleimides) is also discussed. Included is a description of the various tougheners intended for use or currently being used.

Yee, Albert F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Residual motions caused by micro-gravitational accelerations

It is shown here that, under certain conditions, the low-frequency accelerations on experiments being performed aboard orbiting spacecraft due to gravity gradient, atmospheric drag, and spacecraft attitude or orientation can cause sustained fluid motions which require correction by advanced mass compensation techniques. The gravity gradient tensor is derived, and an expression for the difference between the absolute accelerations of a free particle and the mass center of the spacecraft is obtained. A model for the variation of atmospheric density with altitude is discussed, the equations governing the relative motion of a drag-free particle with respect to the mass center of the spacecraft are presented, and analytical and numerical solutions are obtained. Two possible spacecraft altitudes are considered. The problem of the Stokes motion of a sphere immersed in a viscous fluid is examined. Results are presented for the motion of a steel ball in water and for a triglycine sulfate crystal freely suspended in solution.

Alexander, J. Iwan D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Preliminary evaluation of a micro-based repeated measures testing system

A need exists for an automated performance test system to study the effects of various treatments which are of interest to the aerospace medical community, i.e., the effects of drugs and environmental stress. The ethics and pragmatics of such assessment demand that repeated measures in small groups of subjects be the customary research paradigm. Test stability, reliability-efficiency and factor structure take on extreme significance; in a program of study by the U.S. Navy, 80 percent of 150 tests failed to meet minimum metric requirements. The best is being programmed on a portable microprocessor and administered along with tests in their original formats in order to examine their metric properties in the computerized mode. Twenty subjects have been tested over four replications on a 6.0 minute computerized battery (six tests) and which compared with five paper and pencil marker tests. All tests achieved stability within the four test sessions, reliability-efficiencies were high (r greater than .707 for three minutes testing), and the computerized tests were largely comparable to the paper and pencil version from which they were derived. This computerized performance test system is portable, inexpensive and rugged.

Kennedy, Robert S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Investigation of surface tension driven convection as a feasibility study for a micro-gravity experiment

The work performed for the feasibility study of a microgravity surface tension driven convection experiment was reviewed. An experimental investigation of the onset of convection in shallow fluid layers heated uniformly from below and cooled from above by an air layer was made. Results are discussed in relation to the formation of Benard cells. The onset of Rayleigh-Benard convection in thin fluid layers heated uniformly from below were studied experimentally. It was found that in thin fluid layers the onset of Rayleigh-Benard convection is preceded by subcritical convective motions. Secondly, it was found that the onset of Rayleigh-Benard convection in non-Boussinesq fluid layers takes place in the form of hexagonal cells at Rayleigh numbers larger than the critical Rayleigh number R sub C = 1708 which determines the onset of convection in Boussinesq fluid layers.

Koschmieder, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Laminar diffusion flames under micro-gravity conditions

Laminar methane and propane gas-jet diffusion flames have been theoretically and experimentally studied at NASA-Lewis under microgravity conditions. It is noted that laminar diffusion flames are strongly affected by the combined effects of kinetics, radiation, and such transient phenomena as flame ignition, stabilization, and extinction. Observations on the distinctive nature of the flame color and luminosity parameters in microgravity are presented, and flame behavior under transient, high-deceleration rates is discussed. Test hardware and instrumentation design are described.

Edelman, Raymond B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Ultrafine particle and fiber production in micro-gravity

The technique of evaporation and condensation of material in an inert gas is investigated for the purpose of preparing ultrafine particles (of order 10 nm in diameter) with a narrow distribution of sizes. Gravity-driven convection increases the rate of coalescence of the particles, leading to larger sizes and a broader distribution. Analysis and experimental efforts to investigate coalescence of particles are presented. The possibility of reducing coalescence in microgravity is discussed. An experimental test in reduced gravity to be performed in a KC135 aircraft is described briefly.

Webb, George W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Analysis of the fluid dynamics and heat transfer during micro-gravity Bridgman-Stockbarger growth of semiconductors in steady periodic gravitational fields

The effect of periodic variations in the magnitude and direction of gravitational acceleration on buoyancy-driven convection in the melt during microgravity growth of low Prandtl number semiconductor materials in Brigdman-Stockbarger configuration is investigated through the numerical solution of the transient Navier-Stokes and energy equations. Results are presented over a wide range of Rayleigh numbers and frequency spectrum of periodic g-level variations corresponding to conditions present on earth and on board spacecrafts. The frequency response of convection in the melt during growth is found to be similar to that of a first order dynamic system with a cutoff frequency determined by the diffusion of momentum in the system. Results indicate that during growth of small diameter Germanium crystals, convection in the melt is insensitive to the measured g-gitter on board the shuttle.

Griffin, Patrick R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Development of a micro-computer based integrated design system for high altitude long endurance aircraft

A microcomputer-based integration of aircraft design disciplines has been applied theoretically to sailplane, microwave-powered aircraft, and High Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) aircraft configurational definition efforts. Attention is presently given to the further development of such integrated-disciplines approaches through the incorporation of AI techniques; these are then applied to the aforementioned case of the HALE. The 'windFrame' language used, which is based on HyperTalk, will allow designers to write programs using a highly graphical, user interface-oriented environment.

Hall, David W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

An economical semi-analytical orbit theory for micro-computer applications

An economical algorithm is presented for predicting the position of a satellite perturbed by drag and zonal harmonics J sub 2 through J sub 4. Simplicity being of the essence, drag is modeled as a secular decay rate in the semi-axis (retarded motion); with the zonal perturbations modeled from a modified version of the Brouwers formulas. The algorithm is developed as: an alternative on-board orbit predictor; a back up propagator requiring low energy consumption; or a ground based propagator for microcomputer applications (e.g., at the foot of an antenna). An O(J sub 2) secular retarded state partial matrix (matrizant) is also given to employ with state estimation. The theory was implemented in BASIC on an inexpensive microcomputer, the program occupying under 8K bytes of memory. Simulated trajectory data and real tracking data are employed to illustrate the theory's ability to accurately accommodate oblateness and drag effects.

Gordon, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Mantle-derived fluids in diamond micro-inclusions

Microinclusions in diamonds from Zaire and Botswana differ in composition from the more common large inclusions of the peridotitic or eclogitic assemblages. These sub-micrometer inclusions resemble potassic magmas in their composition, but are enriched in H2O, CO2(3-), and K2O and depleted in MgO. This composition represents a volatile-rich fluid or melt from the upper mantle, which was trapped in the diamonds as they grew.

Navon, O.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Attitude dynamics of the Tether Elevator/Crawler System for micro-gravity applications

The Tether Elevator/Crawler System (TECS) consists of two end platforms tethered to opposite sides of the Space Station. A variable gravity laboratory is located on board an elevator which can crawl along the upper tether. This paper analyzes the elevator's attitude dynamics in order to evaluate its effect on microgravity applications. To this end, a simulation model is described and numerical results are given for a steady state case. It is shown that the elevator attitude dynamics, without attitude control, contributes additional spectral lines to the acceleration noise.

Vetrella, S.↗