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At least 1,261 records · Page 70

Interactive orbital proximity operations planning system

An interactive graphical planning system for on-site planning of proximity operations in the congested multispacecraft environment about the space station is presented. The system shows the astronaut a bird's eye perspective of the space station, the orbital plane, and the co-orbiting spacecraft. The system operates in two operational modes: (1) a viewpoint mode, in which the astronaut is able to move the viewpoint around in the orbital plane to range in on areas of interest; and (2) a trajectory design mode, in which the trajectory is planned. Trajectory design involves the composition of a set of waypoints which result in a fuel-optimal trajectory which satisfies all operational constraints, such as departure and arrival constraints, plume impingement constraints, and structural constraints. The main purpose of the system is to present the trajectory and the constraints in an easily interpretable graphical format. Through a graphical interactive process, the trajectory waypoints are edited until all operational constraints are satisfied. A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the system. Eight airline pilots with no prior background in orbital mechanics participated in the experiments. Subject training included a stand-alone training session of about 6 hours duration, in which the subjects became familiar with orbital mechanics concepts and performed a series of exercises to familiarize themselves with the control and display features of the system. They then carried out a series of production runs in which 90 different trajectory design situations were randomly addressed. The purpose of these experiments was to investigate how the planning time, planning efforts, and fuel expenditures were affected by the planning difficulty. Some results of these experiments are presented.

Grunwald, Arthur J.↗

Heat transfer, velocity-temperature correlation, and turbulent shear stress from Navier-Stokes computations of shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction flows

The properties of 2-D shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction flows were calculated by using a compressible turbulent Navier-Stokes numerical computational code. Interaction flows caused by oblique shock wave impingement on the turbulent boundary layer flow were considered. The oblique shock waves were induced with shock generators at angles of attack less than 10 degs in supersonic flows. The surface temperatures were kept at near-adiabatic (ratio of wall static temperature to free stream total temperature) and cold wall (ratio of wall static temperature to free stream total temperature) conditions. The computational results were studied for the surface heat transfer, velocity temperature correlation, and turbulent shear stress in the interaction flow fields. Comparisons of the computational results with existing measurements indicated that (1) the surface heat transfer rates and surface pressures could be correlated with Holden's relationship, (2) the mean flow streamwise velocity components and static temperatures could be correlated with Crocco's relationship if flow separation did not occur, and (3) the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model should be modified for turbulent shear stress computations in the interaction flows.

Wang, C. R.↗

Biological neural networks as model systems for designing future parallel processing computers

One of the more interesting debates of the present day centers on whether human intelligence can be simulated by computer. The author works under the premise that neurons individually are not smart at all. Rather, they are physical units which are impinged upon continuously by other matter that influences the direction of voltage shifts across the units membranes. It is only the action of a great many neurons, billions in the case of the human nervous system, that intelligent behavior emerges. What is required to understand even the simplest neural system is painstaking analysis, bit by bit, of the architecture and the physiological functioning of its various parts. The biological neural network studied, the vestibular utricular and saccular maculas of the inner ear, are among the most simple of the mammalian neural networks to understand and model. While there is still a long way to go to understand even this most simple neural network in sufficient detail for extrapolation to computers and robots, a start was made. Moreover, the insights obtained and the technologies developed help advance the understanding of the more complex neural networks that underlie human intelligence.

Ross, Muriel D.↗

User's manual for rocket combustor interactive design (ROCCID) and analysis computer program. Volume 1: User's manual

The user's manual for the rocket combustor interactive design (ROCCID) computer program is presented. The program, written in Fortran 77, provides a standardized methodology using state of the art codes and procedures for the analysis of a liquid rocket engine combustor's steady state combustion performance and combustion stability. The ROCCID is currently capable of analyzing mixed element injector patterns containing impinging like doublet or unlike triplet, showerhead, shear coaxial, and swirl coaxial elements as long as only one element type exists in each injector core, baffle, or barrier zone. Real propellant properties of oxygen, hydrogen, methane, propane, and RP-1 are included in ROCCID. The properties of other propellants can easily be added. The analysis model in ROCCID can account for the influence of acoustic cavities, helmholtz resonators, and radial thrust chamber baffles on combustion stability. ROCCID also contains the logic to interactively create a combustor design which meets input performance and stability goals. A preliminary design results from the application of historical correlations to the input design requirements. The steady state performance and combustion stability of this design is evaluated using the analysis models, and ROCCID guides the user as to the design changes required to satisfy the user's performance and stability goals, including the design of stability aids. Output from ROCCID includes a formatted input file for the standardized JANNAF engine performance prediction procedure.

Muss, J. A.↗

User's manual for rocket combustor interactive design (ROCCID) and analysis computer program. Volume 2: Appendixes A-K

The appendices A-K to the user's manual for the rocket combustor interactive design (ROCCID) computer program are presented. This includes installation instructions, flow charts, subroutine model documentation, and sample output files. The ROCCID program, written in Fortran 77, provides a standardized methodology using state of the art codes and procedures for the analysis of a liquid rocket engine combustor's steady state combustion performance and combustion stability. The ROCCID is currently capable of analyzing mixed element injector patterns containing impinging like doublet or unlike triplet, showerhead, shear coaxial and swirl coaxial elements as long as only one element type exists in each injector core, baffle, or barrier zone. Real propellant properties of oxygen, hydrogen, methane, propane, and RP-1 are included in ROCCID. The properties of other propellants can be easily added. The analysis models in ROCCID can account for the influences of acoustic cavities, helmholtz resonators, and radial thrust chamber baffles on combustion stability. ROCCID also contains the logic to interactively create a combustor design which meets input performance and stability goals. A preliminary design results from the application of historical correlations to the input design requirements. The steady state performance and combustion stability of this design is evaluated using the analysis models, and ROCCID guides the user as to the design changes required to satisfy the user's performance and stability goals, including the design of stability aids. Output from ROCCID includes a formatted input file for the standardized JANNAF engine performance prediction procedure.

Muss, J. A.↗

Atomic oxygen stimulated outgassing

The passive Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) Experiment A0034, Atomic Oxygen Simulated Outgassing, consisted of two identical one-sixth tray modules, exposing selected thermal control coatings to atomic oxygen and the combined space environment on the leading edge and, for reference, to the relative wake environment on the trailing edge. Optical mirrors were included adjacent to the thermal coatings for deposition of outgassing products. Ultraviolet grade windows and metal covers were provided for additional assessment of the effects of the various environmental factors. Preliminary results indicate that orbital atomic oxygen is both a degrading and a optically restorative factor in the thermo-optical properties of selected thermal coatings. There is evidence of more severe optical degradation on collector mirrors adjacent to coatings that were exposed to the RAM-impinging atomic oxygen. This evidence of atomic oxygen stimulated outgassing is discussed in relation to alternative factors that could affect degradation. The general effects of the space environment on the experiment hardware as well as the specimens are discussed.

Linton, Roger C.↗

VUV-induced degradation of FEP Teflon aboard LDEF

Examination of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) copolymer materials recovered from the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) reveals differing damage characteristics on leading edge (ram-facing) versus trailing edge (wake-facing surfaces). Silver/Teflon (Ag/FEP) thermal control materials on ram facing surfaces of the LDEF exhibited obvious degradation, with an apparent increase in diffuse light scattering, whereas identical materials on the wake facing surfaces showed little apparent damage with cursory inspection. Microscopic examination of both types of surfaces reveals the nature and extent of environment induced degradation of materials. The ram facing surfaces were clearly eroded by atomic oxygen impingement, while the wake facing material developed a thin, highly embrittled surface layer.

Brinza, David E.↗

Helium abundances on the moon: Assumptions and estimates

Nuclear energy is a highly desirable source of energy, and He-3 is the most prized of the fusion reactants. As the Wisconsin Group has emphasized, He-3 may be the only true economic ore on the Moon. The lack of a shielding atmosphere on the Moon permits solar-wind alpha particles to impinge upon the lunar regolith and become implanted into the various solid components. In particular, large quantities of helium (5 to 50 ppm) are presented. The measured parameter of I(sub s)/FeO, a direct indicator of maturity and exposure age, can be used as a first approximation to predict the abundances of many solar-wind components in the soils. However, because ilmenite has a much higher retentivity for helium than the other phases, the TiO2 contents of the soils are better indicators of helium contents (Taylor, Space 90). High-Ti mare bassalt regions, such as at the Apollo 17 locale, appear to be the best areas for He mining (15 to 50 ppm He(sub T)), versus 3 to 9 ppm in the Highlands. However, the relationships between I(sub s)/FeO, TiO2 and He-3 contents are complicated - e.g., many of the most He-rich soils are immature to submature. The amount of He-3 in the regolith of the moon is estimated at 220,000 tons in the outer 2 m of the Maria.

Taylor, Lawrence A.↗

Saltation threshold detection in a wind tunnel by the measurement of the net electrostatic charge

The Mars surface wind tunnel (MARSWIT) is an open circuit wind tunnel used for aeolian studies and is located inside a large vacuum chamber allowing testing at Martian surface atmospheric pressure. Since direct access is not available to the tunnel during operation at low pressure, a remote method of saltation detection is needed. The bed is observed by means of closed circuit video, but it is often difficult to determine the initiation of threshold. The measurement by means of an electrometer of the net electric charge produced by the saltating particles has provided a reliable means of saltation threshold detection. Saltating particles become charged several ways, both in wind tunnels and in a natural environment. The most significant of these methods are tribo-charging and contact charging, which always occur. Fracture charging may also occur under the high velocities associated with particle transport on Mars or under simulated Martian conditions. Detection in MARSWIT is achieved by allowing the saltating particles to impinge on a planar conducting surface normal to the flow that is connected to ground through a Keithly electrometer. The signal from the electrometer is connected to a strip chart recorder along with the analog signal from the pitot tube transducer that is used to determine the wind velocity in the tunnel. Thus, a record of wind velocity and the initiation of particle saltation is conveniently displayed together. While both positive and negative charges are produced during saltation, this method measures only the net charge; thus the charge may be either positive or negative depending upon the particles being tested, the size and size distribution of the test material, and the wind velocity. This has proven to be a very trustworthy and sensitive method of saltation threshold detection, being especially useful with the smaller sized particles which are the most difficult to observe visually.

Leach, Rodman N.↗

Stability of a non-orthogonal stagnation flow to three dimensional disturbances

A similarity solution for a low Mach number nonorthogonal flow impinging on a hot or cold plate is presented. For the constant density case, it is known that the stagnation point shifts in the direction of the incoming flow and that this shift increases as the angle of attack decreases. When the effects of density variations are included, a critical plate temperature exists; above this temperature the stagnation point shifts away from the incoming stream as the angle is decreased. This flow field is believed to have application to the reattachment zone of certain separated flows or to a lifting body at a high angle of attack. Finally, the stability of this nonorthogonal flow to self similar, 3-D disturbances is examined. Stability properties of the flow are given as a function of the parameters of this study; ratio of the plate temperature to that of the outer potential flow and angle of attack. In particular, it is shown that the angle of attack can be scaled out by a suitable definition of an equivalent wavenumber and temporal growth rate, and the stability problem for the nonorthogonal case is identical to the stability problem for the orthogonal case.

Lasseigne, D. G.↗

Applications of low lift to drag ratio aerobrakes using angle of attack variation for control

Several applications of low lift to drag ratio aerobrakes are investigated which use angle of attack variation for control. The applications are: return from geosynchronous or lunar orbit to low Earth orbit; and planetary aerocapture at Earth and Mars. A number of aerobrake design considerations are reviewed. It was found that the flow impingement behind the aerobrake and the aerodynamic heating loads are the primary factors that control the sizing of an aerobrake. The heating loads and other loads, such as maximum acceleration, are determined by the vehicle ballistic coefficient, the atmosphere entry conditions, and the trajectory design. Several formulations for defining an optimum trajectory are reviewed, and the various performance indices that can be used are evaluated. The 'nearly grazing' optimal trajectory was found to provide the best compromise between the often conflicting goals of minimizing the vehicle propulsive requirements and minimizing vehicle loads. The relationship between vehicle and trajectory design is investigated further using the results of numerical simulations of trajectories for each aerobrake application. The data show the sensitivity of the trajectories to several vehicle parameters and atmospheric density variations. The results of the trajectory analysis show that low lift to drag ratio aerobrakes, which use angle of attack variation for control, can potentially be used for a wide range of aerobrake applications.

Mulqueen, J. A.↗

An experimental study of fluctuating pressure loads beneath swept shock/boundary-layer interactions

A database is established on the fluctuating pressure loads produced on aerodynamic surfaces beneath 3-D shock wave/boundary layer interactions. Such loads constitute a fundamental problem of critical concern to future supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles. A turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate is subjected to interactions with swept planar shock waves generated by sharp fins. Fin angles from 5 to 25 deg at freestream Mach numbers between 2.5 and 4 produce a variety of interaction strengths from weak to very strong. Miniature Kulite pressure transducers mounted in the flat plate were used to measure interaction-induced wall pressure fluctuations. These data will be correlated with proposed new optical data on the fluctuations of the interaction structure, especially that of the lambda-shock system and its associated high-speed jet impingement.

Settles, Gary S.↗

A numerical study of shock wave/boundary layer interaction in nonequilibrium chemically reacting air - The effects of catalytic walls

This paper presents a numerical study that investigate the effects of nonequilibrium chemistry, and in particular, wall catalycity on the separated flow region generated by an oblique shock wave impinging upon a flat plate boundary layer. To obtain a solution to this problem, the full two dimensional Navier-Stokes equations were solved using MacCormack's predictor-corrector time dependent technique on a rectangular grid. Nonequilibrium chemistry was included by utilizing the 5 species, 17 reaction modified Dunn-Kang chemical kinetics model. Separate results were obtained for: calorically perfect, chemically reacting - noncatalytic wall, and chemically reacting - fully catalytic wall cases, for a given set of flow conditions. A direct comparison of all three cases revealed a slight decrease in the peak heat transfer for the noncatalytic wall case, as compared to the calorically perfect case. On the other hand, the fully catalytic wall case had a tremendous increase in the peak surface heat transfer. It is concluded that, for the particular conditons treated here (nearly frozen flow in the free stream), the effects of the nonequilibrium chemically reacting flow on the shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction depend critically on the catalycity of the wall, having virtually no effect for the case of a noncatalytic wall, and exerting a tremendous effect for a fully catalytic wall.

Grumet, Adam A.↗

Shock strength effects on separated flows in non-equilibrium chemically reacting air - Shock wave/boundary layer interaction

This work is part of a general study to examine the effects of nonequilibrium chemical reactions on hypersonic separated flows. In particular, the work presented is the first attempt to quantitatively predict the effects of impinging shock strength on the separation region in non-equilibrium chemically reacting air over a flat plate. Of special interest is the local heat transfer rate to the plate at the reattachment point. The effects of chemically non-equilibrium on the flow field are assessed by making direct comparisons to the results calculated assuming a calorically perfect flow. Chemical reactions are found to increase heat transfer rates, and this increase becomes significantly larger as Reynolds number increases.

Ballaro, Charles A.↗

Structures technology development for hypersonic vehicles

This paper summarizes some of the efforts to advance hypersonic structures technology through the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) Structures Technology Maturation Program. The ranges of expected structural loads and results from analysis and test activities are described. Topics briefly covered include shock impingement effects on aerothermal loads, actively-cooled structures concepts and test results to date for leading edges and panels, design and fabrication of a carbon-carbon control surface, a program for predicting performance of metal matrix composites, an analysis and sizing procedure for thermal structures, and some recently-developed test fixtures for seals, thermal insulation, and actively-cooled panels.

Camarda, Charles J.↗

Jet-A fuel evaporation analysis in conical tube injectors

A simple one-dimensional drop-life-history analysis and a multidimensional spray calculation using KIVA-II code are applied to the vaporization of Jet-A fuel in multiple tube injectors. Within the assumptions of the analysis, the one-dimensional results are useful for design purposes. The pressure-atomizer breakup models do not accurately predict the dropsize measured experimentally or deduced from the one-dimensional analysis. Cold flow visualization and dropsize measurements show that capillary wave breakup mechanism plays an important role in the spray angle and droplet impingement on the tube wall.

Lai, M.-C.↗

Hydrogen, helium, and other solar-wind components in lunar soil - Abundances and predictions

The lack of a shielding atmosphere on the moon permits solar-wind particles to impinge upon the lunar soil and become implanted into the various phases which comprise the soil. Relatively large quantities of solar-wind implanted hydrogen (50-100 ppm) and helium (10-50 ppm) are present. The measured parameter of I(s)FeO, a direct indicator of maturity and exposure age, can be used as a first approximation to predict the abundances of many solar-wind components in the soils. However, because ilmenite acts as a 'sponge' for the retention of certain elements, the TiO2 content of the soil is a better indicator for hydrogen and helium contents.

Taylor, Lawrence A.↗

Experimental results using active control of traveling wave power flow

Active structural control experiments conducted on a 24-ft pinned-free beam derived feedback compensators on the basis of a traveling-wave approach. A compensator is thus obtained which eliminates resonant behavior by absorbing all impinging power. A causal solution is derived for this noncausal compensator which mimics its behavior in a given frequency range, using the Wiener-Hopf. This optimal Wiener-Hopf compensator's structure-damping performance is found to exceed any obtainable by means of rate feedback. Performance limitations encompassed the discovery of frequencies above which the sensor and actuator were no longer dual and an inadvertent coupling of the control hardware to unmodeled structure torsion modes.

Miller, David W.↗