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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 1,297 records · Page 72

Development and fabrication of improved Schottky power diodes, phases I and II

Reproducible methods for the fabrication of silicon Schottky diodes were developed for the metals tungsten, aluminum, conventional platinum silicide and low temperature platinum silicide. Barrier heights and barrier lowering were measured permitting the accurate prediction of ideal forward and reverse diode performance. Processing procedures were developed which permit the fabrication of large area (approximately 1 sqcm) mesa-geometry power Schottky diodes with forward and reverse characteristics that approach theoretical values.

Cordes, L. F.↗

Fabrication and testing of negative-limited sealed nickel-cadmium cells

Negative-limited sealed nickel-cadmium cells are a possible means toward increasing the life of nickel-cadmium cells to about a decade or more. The purpose of this program is to design, construct, and test 100, 20 Ah and 100, 30 Ah negative-limited sealed cells. The cell design was completed and hardware was ordered during the first quarter. Electrode fabrication was started in the first quarter and carried on through the second quarter. The fabrication and selection of the necessary electrodes has been completed during the third quarter. Cell construction has been completed and the preparatory cell cycling is underway. The preliminary testing to select the initial delivery cell has been started.

Gordy, D. J.↗

Fabrication of angleply carbon-aluminum composites

A study was conducted to fabricate and test angleply composite consisting of NASA-Hough carbon base monofilament in a matrix of 2024 aluminum. The effect of fabrication variables on the tensile properties was determined, and an optimum set of conditions was established. The size of the composite panels was successfully scaled up, and the material was tested to measure tensile behavior as a function of temperature, stress-rupture and creep characteristics at two elevated temperatures, bending fatigue behavior, resistance to thermal cycling, and Izod impact response.

Novak, R. C.↗

Fabrication of 1/3 scale boron/epoxy booster thrust structure, phase 2

The design, materials, tooling, various manufacturing processes, quality control, test procedures, and results associated with the fabrication and testing of a 1/3 scale boron/epoxy, booster thrust structure are described. A complete two-dimensional truss type thrust structure, comprised of nine boron/epoxy tubular members and six apex fittings, was fabricated. This resulted in structurally representative flight hardware, and verified the manufacturing feasibility and projected weight savings (30%) for this type of structure.

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Design, fabrication, and test of lightweight shell structure, phase 2

A cylindrical shell skirt structure 4.57 m (180 in.) in diameter and 3.66 m (144 in.) high was subjected to a design and analysis study using a wide variety of structural materials and concepts. The design loading of 1225.8 N/cm (700 lb/in.) axial compression and 245.2 N/cm (140 lb/in.) torsion is representative of that expected on a typical space tug skirt section. Structural concepts evaluated included honeycomb sandwich, truss, isogrid, and skin/stringer/frame. The materials considered included a wide variety of structural metals as well as glass, graphite, and boron-reinforced composites. The most unique characteristic of the candidate designs is that they involve the use of very thin-gage material. Fabrication and structural test of small panels and components representative of many of the candidate designs served to demonstrate proposed fabrication techniques and to verify design and analysis methods.

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Fabrication of an extreme ultraviolet glancing incidence telescope

A technique is described for use in the fabrication of glancing incidence telescopes which operate at large grazing angles (i.e., 8 to 15 degrees). Precision conic section plunge laps are used in a controlled grinding procedure to initially generate imaging surfaces which have a minimum of subsurface damage. A numerically controlled Moore Number 3 Measuring Machine is used throughout the fabrication procedure. Surface geometry accuracies on the order of one-tenth micron have been achieved.

Fleetwood, C. M.↗

Design, fracture control, fabrication, and testing of pressurized space-vehicle structures

The relationship between analysis, design, fabrication, and testing of thin shells is illustrated by Saturn S-IVB, Thor, Delta, and other single-use and reusable large-size cryogenic aluminum tankage. The analyses and design to meet the design requirements are reviewed and include consideration of fracture control, general instability, and other failure modes. The effect of research and development testing on the structure is indicated. It is shown how fabrication and nondestructive and acceptance testing constrain the design. Finally, qualification testing is reviewed to illustrate the extent of testing used to develop the Saturn S-IVB.

Babel, H. W.↗

Lithium-doped solar cell pilot line fabrication and test programs

An investigation was conducted to determine the technology readiness of lithium-doped silicon solar cells with respect to use in space programs. A pilot line fabrication program was established, in which the pilot line cells were evaluated after being exposed to environments ordinarily imposed on nonlithium-doped silicon solar cells. Results indicate that further process improvements are required, particularly with respect to the P/N junction diffusion and the electrical contacting technique (including solder coating). It is concluded that lithium-doped cells can be fabricated to exhibit (1) high efficiencies, (2) uniform cell-to-cell recovery characteristics after exposure to 1-MeV electrons; and (3) good stability in most environments investigated (the only exception being the thermal shock environment).

Berman, P. A.↗

Design and fabrication of a flexible tunnel for Sortie Laboratory

A program was conducted to update a prototype design and to fabricate a flexible tunnel for a space shuttle/spacelab interface structure. The significant changes in the prototype are as follows: (1) elimination of foam from bladder laminate to increase bladder flexibility, (2) heat treat pulley brackets, bolts, and hinge pin to 160,000 psi minimum tensile strength, and (3) reduction of the meteoroid barrier from 0.5 inch to 0.375 inch. The thermal blanket installation study resulted in developing a method of installation by properly folding the various layers so that a uniform thickness could be maintained under the clamps. A single-lobe mockup was fabricated and cycled open and closed several times with no apparent damage to the blanket.

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Design, fabrication and test of lightweight shell structure

A cylindrical shell structure 3.66 m (144 in.) high by 4.57 m (180 in.) diameter was designed using a wide variety of materials and structural concepts to withstand design ultimate combined loading 1225.8 N/cm (700 lb/in.) axial compression and 245.2 N/cm (140 lb/in.) torsion. The overall cylinder geometry and design loading are representative of that expected on a high performance space tug vehicle. The relatively low design load level results in designs that use thin gage metals and fibrous-composite laminates. Fabrication and structural tests of small panels and components representative of many of the candidate designs served to demonstrate proposed fabrication techniques and to verify design and analysis methods. Three of the designs evaluated, honeycomb sandwich with aluminum faceskins, honeycomb sandwich with graphite/epoxy faceskins, and aluminum truss with fiber-glass meteoroid protection layers, were selected for further evaluation.

Lager, J. R.↗

Inversion layer solar cell fabrication and evaluation

Inversion layer solar cells were fabricated by etching through the diffused layer on p-type silicon wafers in a comb-like contact pattern. The charge separation comes from an induced p-n junction at the surface. The inverted surface is caused by a layer of transparent material applied to the surface that either contains free positive ions or that creates donor states at the interface. Cells are increased from 3 ma I sub sc to 100 ma by application of sodium silicate. The action is unstable, however, and decays. Non-mesa contaminated oxide cells were fabricated with short circuit currents of over 100 ma measured in the sun. Cells of this type have demonstrated stability.

Call, R. L.↗

Design, fabrication, and test of a Graphite/Epoxy Metering Shell (GEMS)

A program to design, fabricate and test a dimensionally stable metering structure in support of the large space telescope (LST) program is discussed. Graphite/epoxy was the material selected as the only viable candidate material which can meet the stringent thermal expansion criteria of the LST. A metering shell was designed and fabricated, with emphasis on dimensional stability in conjunction with low cost. Thermal expansion test coupons extracted from the layups of the skin panels indicated the attainment of a coefficient of thermal expansion of 0.0666 micrometers/m K. Subsequent thermal vacuum chamber tests on the complete metering shell demonstrated an expansion of the 2.95-meter overall length of 0.27 micrometers/K. Static and dynamics tests, which demonstrated adequacy with respect to limit loads and stiffness, were also accomplished.

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Design and fabrication of composite wing panels containing a production splice

Bolted specimens representative of both upper and lower wing surface splices of a transport aircraft were designed and manufactured for static and random load tension and compression fatigue testing including ground-air-ground load reversals. The specimens were fabricated with graphite-epoxy composite material. Multiple tests were conducted at various load levels and the results were used as input to a statistical wearout model. The statically designed specimens performed very well under highly magnified fatigue loadings. Two large panels, one tension and compression, were fabricated for testing by NASA-LRC.

Reed, D. L.↗

Joining and fabrication of metal-matrix composite materials

Manufacturing technology associated with developing fabrication processes to incorporate metal-matrix composites into flight hardware is studied. The joining of composite to itself and to titanium by innovative brazing, diffusion bonding, and adhesive bonding is examined. The effects of the fabrication processes on the material properties and their influence on the design of YF-12 wing panels are discussed.

Royster, D. M.↗

Design and fabrication of silver-hydrogen cells

The design and fabrication of silver-hydrogen secondary cells capable of delivering higher energy densities than comparable nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen cells and relatively high cycle life is presented. An experimental task utilizing single electrode pairs for the optimization of the individual electrode components, the preparation of a design for lightweight 20Ahr cells, and the fabrication of four 20Ahr cells in heavy wall test housing containing electrode stacks of the lightweight design are described. The design approach is based on the use of a single cylindrical self-contained cell with a stacked disc sequence of electrodes. The electrode stack design is based on the use of NASA- Astropower Separator Material, PPF fuel cell anodes, an intercell electrolyte reservoir concept and sintered silver electrodes. Results of performance tests are given.

Klein, M. G.↗

Epitaxial solar cells fabrication

Silicon epitaxy has been studied for the fabrication of solar cell structures, with the intent of optimizing efficiency while maintaining suitability for space applications. SiH2CL2 yielded good quality layers and junctions with reproducible impurity profiles. Diode characteristics and lifetimes in the epitaxial layers were investigated as a function of epitaxial growth conditions and doping profile, as was the effect of substrates and epitaxial post-gettering on lifetime. The pyrolytic decomposition of SiH4 was also used in the epitaxial formation of highly doped junction layers on bulk Si wafers. The effects of junction layer thickness and bulk background doping level on cell performance, in particular, open-circuit voltage, were investigated. The most successful solar cells were fabricated with SiH2 CL2 to grow p/n layers on n(+) substrates. The best performance was obtained from a p(+)/p/n/n(+) structure grown with an exponential grade in the n-base layer.

Daiello, R. V.↗

Design, fabrication, testing and delivery of a solar collector

A two phase program encompassing the redesign and fabrication of a solar collector which is low in cost and aesthetically appealing is described. Phase one work reviewed the current collector design and developed a low-cost design based on specific design/performance/cost requirements. Throughout this phase selected collector component materials were evaluated by testing and by considering cost, installation, maintainability and durability. The resultant collector design was composed of an absorber plate, insulation, frame, cover, desiccant and sealant. In Phase two, three collector prototypes were fabricated and evaluated for both nonthermal and thermal characteristics. Tests included static load tests of covers, burst pressure tests of absorber plates, and tests for optical characteristics of selective absorber plate coatings. The three prototype collectors were shipped to Marshall Space Flight Center for use in their solar heating and cooling test facility.

Sims, W. H.↗