On the extrapolation of measured near field pressure signatures of unconventional configurations
Extrapolation of measured overpressure data for predicting sonic boom characteristics of different aerodynamic configurations
Hicks, R. M.↗
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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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Study of unconventional propulsion system concepts for use in a long range transport
The noise level of an uncoventional propulsion system for the next generation of subsonic, long-range transport aircraft is discussed. The desired noise level may be achieved by: (1) a fixed geometry, high bypass ratio turbofan with a geared two-stage fan and advanced acoustic treatment or (2) a moderate bypass ratio turbofan with a variable pitch two-stage fan, variable primary and duct nozzles, and advanced acoustic treatment. The geared fan system meets the noise goal with minimum economic penalty. Comparison of the noise levels at takeoff and landing in combination with the economic penalties required to achieve the lower noise levels at specific noise measuring stations, indicate that both area reduction and current certification prodedures should be used to ascertain the point of diminishing returns in establishing future noise goals.
Champagne, G. A.↗
Unconventional inertial sensors
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Langford, R. C.↗
Unconventional nozzle tradeoff study
Plug cluster engine design, performance, weight, envelope, operational characteristics, development cost, and payload capability, were evaluated and comparisons were made with other space tug engine candidates using oxygen/hydrogen propellants. Parametric performance data were generated for existing developed or high technology thrust chambers clustered around a plug nozzle of very large diameter. The uncertainties in the performance prediction of plug cluster engines with large gaps between the modules (thrust chambers) were evaluated. The major uncertainty involves, the aerodynamics of the flow from discrete nozzles, and the lack of this flow to achieve the pressure ratio corresponding to the defined area ratio for a plug cluster. This uncertainty was reduced through a cluster design that consists of a plug contour that is formed from the cluster of high area ratio bell nozzles that have been scarfed. Light-weight, high area ratio, bell nozzles were achieved through the use of AGCarb (carbon-carbon cloth) nozzle extensions.
Obrien, C. J.↗
Unconventional processes for food regeneration in space - An overview
Alternatives to conventional plant agriculture for the regeneration of food during space missions of extended duration are examined. The options considered, which may be used in combination with conventional agriculture, include the production of food from plant wastes, the chemical synthesis of food from carbon dioxide and other simple molecules or the substitution of edible chemicals, and the use of microrganisms for food and oxygen regeneration, with suitable processing. A comparison of solar energy conversion efficiencies is presented for nonphotosynthetic bacteria grown on hydrogen and algal systems photosynthetically, and it is shown that hydrogen bacteria are potentially more attractive than photosynthetic algae using artificial light. Weight-volume requirements for the conventional plant, algae and hydrogen bacteria systems are also compared to demonstrate the advantages of microbial systems.
Stokes, B. O.↗
Current status of solar cell performance of unconventional silicon sheets
It is pointed out that activities in recent years directed towards reduction in the cost of silicon solar cells for terrestrial photovoltaic applications have resulted in impressive advancements in the area of silicon sheet formation from melt. The techniques used in the process of sheet formation can be divided into two general categories. All approaches in one category require subsequent ingot wavering. The various procedures of the second category produce silicon in sheet form. The performance of baseline solar cells is discussed. The baseline process included identification marking, slicing to size, and surface treatment (etch-polishing) when needed. Attention is also given to the performance of cells with process variations, and the effects of sheet quality on performance and processing.
Yoo, H. I.↗
Solar cells fabricated with unconventional silicon materials
Solar cells have been fabricated using silicon materials supplied in the DOE/JPL Large Solar Array program. Each of the silicon materials studied in this program was produced in a unique manner and with intent of producing silicon in a grade and form that would offer the possibility of economic deployment in photovoltaic arrays for generation of electricity. This report will attempt to provide an overview of the results for some of the materials and highlight in particular results obtained for solar cells fabricated from the advanced CZ silicon. Emphasis will be given to consideration of the purity of virgin silicon material used in the heat exchange method.
Minahan, J. A.↗
An evaluation of microorganisms for unconventional food regeneration schemes in CELSS - Research recommendations
The benefits and deficiencies of various candidates for a controlled ecological life support system (CELSS) for manned spacecraft missions of at least 3-14 yr are discussed. Conventional plants are considered unacceptable due to their inefficient production of foodstuffs and overproduction of stems and leafy matter. The alternate concepts are algae and/or bacteria or chemical synthesis of food. Microorganisms are considered the most promising because of their direct use of CO2 and possible utilization of waste streams. Yeasts are cited as the most viable candidates, since a large data base and experience already exists in the commercial food industry. The addition of hydrogen bactria and solar-grown algae is recommended, together with genetic manipulation experiments to tailor the microorganisms to production of foodstuffs closer to the 70 percent carbohydrate, 20 percent protein, and 10 percent lipid optimal food currently accepted. The yeast strain, Hansenula polymorpha, has been successfully grown in methanol and encouraged to produce a 55 percent carbohydrate content.
Stokes, B. O.↗
Unconventional missile concepts from consideration of varied mission requirements
Missile concepts for volumetric efficiency, minimum carriage constraints, and aerodynamic performance to achieve mission requirements. The mission requirements considered include air to surface roles such as defense suppression or antishipping where payload and range may have priority over high maneuver capability, and air to air and surface to air roles paying attention to good maneuvering capability. The concepts are intended to provide for ease of storage or carriage. The concepts include monoplanes with highly swept, thick delta wings, highly swept delta wings mounted either high or low on a semicircular body, some ring wing and semiring wing arrangements, parasol wing, and elliptical lifting bodies. The missile configurations indicate possible approaches toward resolving problems of carriage and storage while retaining good volumetric and aerodynamic efficiency. The configurations can accomplish a variety of possible missions with relatively simple vehicle shapes.
Spearman, M. L.↗
Low-speed experimental study of the vortex flow effects of a fighter forebody having unconventional cross-section
A low speed wind tunnel investigation is conducted for the vortex flow characteristics of a tailless fighter configuration that features full length, fuselage-blended forebody strakes. Static pressure distributions were obtained on the forebody upper surface, and six-component forces and moments were measured on the complete, 60-deg cropped delta wing-fuselage-centerline vertical fin model at angles of attack and sideslip respectively reaching 50 deg and + or - 20 deg. The surface pressure data reveal that development of concentrated vortices from the sharp edged forebody strakes occurred at moderate and high angles of attack. The blended forebody was effective in capturing the windward vortical flow up to high incidence and sideslip angles. The direct suction effect of the windward vortex on the forebody sidewall was the primary contributor to static directional stability at high angles of attack. These improvements are potentially offset, however, by reduced or unstable roll and yaw damping.
Erickson, G. E.↗
Weight estimation of unconventional structures by structural optimization
Automated techniques are presented that are used in structural optimization technology, with emphasis on modifications of finite element models to obtain an optimal material distribution for minimum weight while satisfying the prescribed design requirements. It is anticipated that the future development of computer aided engineering (CAE) system will provide environments where structural analysis, a design optimization, and weight evaluation modules are integrated, sharing a common data base. Structural optimization capabilities obtained by integrating a finite element structural analysis program and a numerical optimization code are developed and applied to two illustrative examples: marine gear housing structural weight minimization and joined wing structures.
Miura, Hirokazu↗
Unconventional food regeneration in space - Opportunities for microbial food production
The possible role of microbial species in regenerating food is considered, and three areas where microbial systems can be used in controlled ecological life support systems are discussed. Microbial species can serve as the biological portion of hybrid chemical/biological schemes for primary food products, as a means more fully to utilize waste materials from agronomical food production, and as a source of nutritional supplements to conventional plant foods. Work accomplished in each of these areas is described. The role of microgravity fermenters in this technology is addressed.
Petersen, Gene R.↗
Unconventional propellant performance
Theoretical calculations are made of rocket performance of exotic fuels at various operating conditions such as chamber pressure, pressure ratios, and oxidizer-to-fuel ratios. By exotic fuels, it is meant using materials that may not normally be used as fuels here on Earth due to low performance. The majority of the work is currently being done on a VAX using the CET 86 program by Gordon and McBride. The CET 86 program will be installed on our IBM PS/2 Model 80 to reduce computer costs. The JPL Solid Propellant Theoretical Performance program for the IBM was also used, it handles solid fuels better than the CET 86 program. The CET 86 program by Gordon and McBride was set on the VAX and results were obtained for a number of the propellant combinations being analyzed. A sample of these results is included. Several programs were written to reduce the large amounts of data generated to include only the information needed, such as specific impulse, temperature, etc. This work involves analyzing propellants at various operating conditions and determining which will give acceptable performance and yet be easily storable for long periods of time and be readily available in space missions.
Ramohalli, Kumar↗
Performance of unconventional propellants
This research involves the theoretical calculations of rocket performance for exotic propellants at various operating conditions, such as chamber pressure, pressure ratios, and oxidizer-to-fuel ratios. Exotic propellants are materials that may not normally be used as propellants on earth due to their low performance characteristics or other factors. The majority of the work was done using the Gordon and McBride CET 86 Program in both a mainframe version and personal computer versions. In addition, the Lockheed/Air Force Solid Propellant Theoretical Performance Program for the IBM PS/2, which handles condensed product species better, was also used.
Rascon, Mario↗
LEO effects on conventional and unconventional solar cell cover materials
In 1984, the LDEF (Long Duration Exposure Facility) was placed in LEO (low earth orbit) for a mission planned to last approximately one year. The effects of the LDEF mission environment (micrometeorite/debris impacts, atomic, atomic oxygen, UV, and particulate radiation) on the samples are described. The relative importance of these interactions is highly dependent on orbital altitude. There is no evidence that the impacts with the test samples (including solar cells) caused any electrical degradation. Evidence from a number of LDEF experiments suggests that the majority of the impacts observed on this experiment were of space debris, rather than micrometeorite origin.
Stella, Paul M.↗
Summary of Spin and Recovery Characteristics of 12 Models of Flying Wing and Unconventional Type Airplanes
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Stone, Ralph W , Jr↗
NASA Space Astronomy Update 6: Unconventional Windows on the Universe
Professor Stu Bowyer (University of California at Berkeley) explains the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer and its telescope in this video. Both instrument and satellite are kept in perfect working condition. The satellite picks up extra galactic objects outside our galaxy.
Source record↗
Variable Speed CMG Control of a Dual-Spin Stabilized Unconventional VTOL Air Vehicle
This paper describes an approach based on using both bias momentum and multiple control moment gyros for controlling the attitude of statically unstable thrust-levitated vehicles in hover or slow translation. The stabilization approach described in this paper uses these internal angular momentum transfer devices for stability, augmented by thrust vectoring for trim and other outer loop control functions, including CMG stabilization/ desaturation under persistent external disturbances. Simulation results show the feasibility of (1) improved vehicle performance beyond bias momentum assisted vector thrusting control, and (2) using control moment gyros to significantly reduce the external torque required from the vector thrusting machinery.
Lim, Kyong B.↗