SEARCH · Engineering Papers
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.
Performance characteristics determined and materials tested for silver-zinc batteries with inorganic compound separators
Material and performance tests of water boiler and water sublimator heat sink modules
Handbook of thermal design data and information on thermophysical properties of high performance insulation materials for spacecraft thermal control surfaces
Fast and thermal reactors for nuclear rockets noting high temperature materials requirements, performance and low power
Flame sprayed ceramic aluminum and zinc coatings for corrosion prevention of tantalum containment vessel in nuclear reactor
Performance characteristics of higher order approximations of Runge-Kutta type are analyzed, and performance predictors for time required on machine and for error size are developed. Technique is useful in evaluating system performance, analyzing material characteristics, and designing inertial guidance and nuclear instrumentation and materials.
Application of spacecraft technology to aircraft for improvement in systems, materials, and performance
Results of a test program designed to determine the effects of 100 temperature and compressive loading cycles on several multilayer insulation materials and composites. A total of four reflector materials, four separator materials, eight face-sheet systems, and one fastener material were subjected to 100 temperature cycles from -320 to 400 or 650 F. Generic types of materials studied included Mylar, Kapton, Dacron, Nomex, and Beta Glass. The temperature cycling was followed by visual inspection, metal adhesion tests on the reflectors, and tensile tests of the face sheets, fastener, and separators. A total of six composites were subjected to compressive cycles between zero and 0.15 psi, and density changes were measured. Application of the experimental results to the shuttle orbiter is discussed.
Reexamination of designs of nuclear thermionic space power systems with the converter outside the reactor in the perspective of recent advances in heat-transfer methods, materials, converter performance, and radiation design. The 40- to 70-kW(e) power range is treated. The configuration is found to meet the constraints of readily available launch vehicles. It allows for off-design operation including startup, shutdown, and possible emergency conditions; provides tolerance of failure by extensive use of modular, redundant elements; incorporates and uses heat pipes in a fashion that reduces the need for extensive in-pile testing of system components; and uses thermionic converters, nuclear fuel elements, and heat-transfer devices in a geometrical form adapted from existing incore thermionic system designs.
The principal characteristics and design features of major systems and technological developments in U.S. space nuclear power activities are reviewed, covering radioisotope thermoelectric generators, reactor space electric power technology, and the advanced liquid metal cooled power reactor program. The topics also include heat source design and development, thermoelectric efficiency, high performance thermoelectric materials, and alloy developments. The U.S. Space Electric Power Program is described as one aimed at the development of a minimum number of standard components and power modules for both radioisotopes and reactor systems that will meet the widest possible range of future requirements. The need to reduce the high cost of the isotopic generators already used in space missions is stressed.
A review of the NASA fire research and developed fire retardant materials is presented with the objective to analyze and evaluate the concepts and materials to determine the practical applicability to the housing industry. The report presents the NASA materials, their performance in a fire environment and areas where further evaluation is required. The review establishes where advancements in the state of the art have been achieved and points out reasons why these advancements can not be directly applied to the housing industry in the near future.
The fracture strength and cyclic crack-growth properties of surface-flawed, shot-peened D6AC steel plate were investigated. For short crack lengths (up to 1.5mm) simple linear elastic fracture mechanics - based only on applied loading - did not predict the fracture strengths. Also, Paris' Law for cyclic crack growth did not correlate the crack-growth behavior. To investigate the effect of shot-peening, additional fracture and crack-growth tests were performed on material which was precompressed to remove the residual stresses left by the shot-peening. Both tests and analysis show that the shot-peening residual stresses influence the fracture and crack-growth properties of the material. The analytical method of compensating for residual stresses and the fracture and cyclic crack-growth test results and predictions are presented.
Technical information is presented covering the areas of: (1) analytical instrumentation useful in the analysis of physical phenomena; (2) analytical techniques used to determine the performance of materials; and (3) systems and component analyses for design and quality control.
The fracture strength and cyclic crack-growth properties of surface-flawed, shot-peened D6AC steel plate were investigated. For short crack lengths (up to 1.5 mm) simple linear elastic fracture mechanics - based only on applied loading - did not predict the fracture strengths. Also, Paris' Law for cyclic crack growth did not correlate the crack-growth behavior. To investigate the effect of shot-peening, additional fracture and crack-growth tests were performed on material which was precompressed to remove the residual stresses left by the shot-peening. Both tests and analysis show that shot-peening residual stresses influence the fracture and crack-growth properties of the material. This report presents the analytical method of compensating for residual stresses and the fracture and cyclic crack-growth test results and predictions.
The higher inlet-gas temperatures in new aircraft turbine engines make it necessary to use improved superalloys in engine design. Such superalloys are provided by WAZ alloys. NASA has explored the Ni-W-Al system in an attempt to find higher-strength nickel-based alloys for use as stator vane materials. Critical performance goals have been met with the new alloy WAZ-16. With suitable protective coatings, WAZ-16 appears to have considerable potential for high-temperature stator vane applications.
The paper reviews the SCAR program with emphasis on research in the areas of propulsion system, structures and materials, aerodynamic performance, stratospheric emissions, and stability and controls. Specific results relate to multicycle engine progress, coannular jet noise relief, blended wing-body configuration progress, powered-lift progress, and progress in structural design methodology.
The weightlessness of objects in free fall permits numerous novel manipulations of multiphase systems and suppresses buoyancy and convection in liquids and gases. In the present paper, the prospects for materials science in space are examined on the basis of the materials experiments performed on Skylab, including biological preparations and crystal growth. Plans for technology-oriented research on Spacelab are reviewed.
This bibliography documents publications of the supersonic cruise aircraft research (SCAR) program that were generated during the first 5 years of effort. The reports are arranged according to systems studies and five SCAR disciplines: propulsion, stratospheric emissions impact, structures and materials, aerodynamic performance, and stability and control. The specific objectives of each discipline are summarized. Annotation is included for all NASA inhouse and low-number contractor reports. There are 444 papers and articles included.