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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

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NASA NTRS1980

Absorption coefficient instrument for turbid natural waters

The paper presents an instrument that directly measures multispectral absorption coefficient of turbid natural water. Attention is given to the design, which is shown to incorporate methods for the compensation of variation in the internal light source intensity, correction of the spectrally dependent nature of the optical elements, and correction for variation in the background light level. In addition, when used in conjunction with a spectrally matched total attenuation instrument, the spectrally dependent scattering coefficient can also be derived. Finally, it is reported that systematic errors associated with multiple scattering have been estimated using Monte Carlo techniques.

Friedman, E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Polar 5 - An electron accelerator experiment within an aurora. I - Instrumentation and geophysical conditions

A mother-daughter rocket was launched over two auroral structures, which included a 10 keV electron accelerator and a series of diagnostic instruments for monitoring optical and wave effects generated through beam-atmospheric interactions and production of secondary electrons. The instrumentation, the ground and rocket background measurements obtained, and some of the beam effects on various geophysical parameters are presented. Attention is given to the rocket geometry, capacitance probe, particle counters, photometers, and the bremsstrahlung X-ray detector. Observations on the plasma environment, auroral particle precipitation, d.c. electric field, optical emissions, and auroral background HF and VLF emissions are also discussed.

Maehlum, B. N.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Fatigue strength testing employed for evaluation and acceptance of jet-engine instrumentation probes

This report outlines the fatigue type testing performed on instrumentation rakes and probes intended for use in the air flow passages of jet-engines during full-scale engine tests at Lewis Research Center. Included is a discussion of each type of test performed, the results that may be derived and means of inspection. A design and testing sequence outlines the procedures and considerations involved in the generation of suitable instrument probes.

Armentrout, E. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Space Telescope - A versatile new instrument

The design, in-orbit operation and projected performance of the Space Telescope are discussed. The telescope will be in a moderately low earth orbit and communicate with the earth through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite and directly for a few minutes each orbit. The optical system contains a 2.4-m mirror in a standard Cassegrain configuration, with four axial instrument positions and one radial and a fine guidance sensor which will allow the maintenance of telescope pointing during an observation to seven thousandths of an arcsec. The satellite will be launched by the Space Shuttle, and is capable of being serviced in space or recaptured and brought back to earth for more extensive modifications. The telescope employs a fairly standard Ritchey-Chretian optical design with a primary field of view of 18 arcmin and good mirror reflection of wavelengths from 1100 A to 1 mm. Image quality will be very insensitive to wavelength, with image size on the order of 0.04 arcsec. Instruments to be carried on the first launch include a guidance system for astrometry, a wide-field and planetary camera, a faint object camera, a high resolution spectrograph, a faint object spectrograph and a high-speed photometer.

Roman, N.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Ultrasonic Instrument for Evaluation of Composites

Ultimate strength of composite material is related to normalized stress-wave factor, a measure of attenuation of stress wave. New portable ultrasonic inspection instrument measures strength of composite materials. New commercial instrument has similar specifications to prototype developed at Lewis Research Center. Device may ultimately help to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiencies of vehicles by allowing use of composite materials to their full potential in critical application areas.

Vary, A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Model design and instrumentation experiences with continuous-flow cryogenic tunnels

The development of wind tunnels that can be operated at cryogenic temperatures has placed several new demands on the ability to build and instrument wind tunnel models. The experiences at the NASA Langley Research Center relative to the design and instrumentation of models for continuous flow cryogenic wind tunnels are reviewed.

Kilgore, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Selection and application of instrumentation for calibration and control of a continuous-flow cryogenic tunnel

Selection and application of calibration and control instrumentation influenced by the extremes in the temperature environment to be found in cryogenic tunnels are described. The instrumentation and data acquisition system used in the Langley 0.3 m transonic tunnel are described along with typical calibration data obtained in a 20 by 60 cm two dimensional test section.

Kilgore, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Modular instrumentation system for real-time measurements and control on reciprocating engines

An instrumentation system was developed for reciprocating engines. Among the parameters measured are the indicated mean effective pressure, or theoretical work per cycle, and the mass fraction burn rate, a measure of the combustion rate in the cylinder. These computations are performed from measured cylinder pressure and crankshaft angle and are available in real time for the experimenter. A 100 or 200 consecutive-cycle sample is analyzed to reduce the effect of cyclic variations in the engine. Data are displayed in bargraph form, and the mean and standard deviation are computed. Other instruments are also described.

Rice, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Synergistic instrument design

An instrument design approach for use in the Galileo Project is presented. The approach emphasizes that all instrument systems are compatible and allow the most efficient use of available hardware and software.

Winter, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Icing instrumentation

The types and usage categories of icing instrumentation are discussed. The state-of-the-art for the technology governing the use of icing instrumentation is reported with particular emphasis on ground based facilities for icing tests.

Olsen, W.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Aircraft icing instrumentation: Unfilled needs

A list of icing instrumentation requirements are presented. Because of the Army's helicopter orientation, many of the suggestions are specific to rotary wing aircraft; however, some of the instrumentation are also suitable for general aviation aircraft.

Kitchens, P. F.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Simulator study of conventional general aviation instrument displays in path-following tasks with emphasis on pilot-induced oscillations

A study of the use of conventional general aviation instruments by general aviation pilots in a six degree of freedom, fixed base simulator was conducted. The tasks performed were tracking a VOR radial and making an ILS approach to landing. A special feature of the tests was that the sensitivity of the displacement indicating instruments (the RMI, CDI, and HSI) was kept constant at values corresponding to 5 n. mi. and 1.25 n. mi. from the station. Both statistical and pilot model analyses of the data were made. The results show that performance in path following improved with increases in display sensitivity up to the highest sensitivity tested. At this maximum test sensitivity, which corresponds to the sensitivity existing at 1.25 n. mi. for the ILS glide slope transmitter, tracking accuracy was no better than it was at 5 n. mi. from the station and the pilot aircraft system exhibited a marked reduction in damping. In some cases, a pilot induced, long period unstable oscillation occurred.

Adams, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Specifying and calibrating instrumentations for wideband electronic power measurements

The wideband electric power measurement related topics of electronic wattmeter calibration and specification are discussed. Tested calibration techniques are described in detail. Analytical methods used to determine the bandwidth requirements of instrumentation for switching circuit waveforms are presented and illustrated with examples from electric vehicle type applications. Analog multiplier wattmeters, digital wattmeters and calculating digital oscilloscopes are compared. The instrumentation characteristics which are critical to accurate wideband power measurement are described.

Lesco, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Instrument development for a toxic level hypergolic vapor detector

The development and deployment of technology applicable to the field measurement of hypergolic propellants is discussed. The propellants include hydrazine (H) monomethylhydrazine (MMH), and 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) at the parts per billion (PPB) level in air or a diluent gas. Four major areas are reviewed: (1) development of an improved electrochemical sensor for the measurement of hydrazines (H, MMH and UDMH) in air; (2) prototype instrument fabrication and subsequent laboratory evaluation; (3) initial instrument field test results; and (4) future requirements and applications.

Rogers, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Geomagnetic field mapping from a satellite: Spatial power spectra of the geomagnetic field at various satellite altitudes relative to natural noise sources and instrument noise

The spectra for the field are presented together with power spectra of the natural magnetospheric and ionosheric noise and a power spectrum of instrumental noise for a typical fluxgate magnetometer. The source of these data is described. The implications of these data relative to desirable instrument frequency resonse, stability and resolution specification as well as the implications relative to desirable spacecraft position and orientation accuracy specifications and desirable environmental (temperature, magnetic noise) specifications are discussed. Implications of these power spectra relative to choice of a suitable magnetometer and relative to desirable methods of data processing are considered. Finally, implications for desirable orbit and mission duration are discussed.

Mcleod, M. G.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Instrumentation for calibration and control of a continuous-flow cryogenic tunnel

Aspects of selection and application of calibration and control instrumentation that are influenced by the extremes in the temperature environment to be found in cryogenic tunnels are described. The instrumentation and data acquisition system used in the 0.3-m transonic cryogenic tunnel along with typical calibration data obtained in a 20 by 60 cm two dimensional test section are described.

Ladson, C. L.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Development and design of three monitoring instruments for spacecraft charging

A set of instruments which provide early detection of potentially dangerous geomagnetic substorm conditions and monitor the spacecraft response are discussed. The set consists of a sensor that measures the characteristic energy of collected electrons or ions from + 100 to - 20,000 V, a logarithmic current density sensor that measures local electron flux and a transient events counter that counts the spurious pulses from electrostatic discharges that couple into the spacecraft wiring harness. Design details and performance characteristics of the three instruments are given. Size, weight, and power requirements are minimized.

Sturman, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A CCD tracker for closed-loop instrument pointing at Halley's comet

An optical tracker based on CCD technology has been developed for the closed-loop pointing of the narrow-angle imaging system of the proposed Halley's comet intercept mission at the comet nucleus. The target tracker, needed to assure the accurate pointing of science instruments as the nucleus rapidly passes the spacecraft, is a component of the pointing control system, which also includes a two-axis articulated instrument platform and high-resolution optical encoders to measure platform orientation relative to spacecraft structure. The device was designed on the basis of a CCD imaging array to calculate target centroid position based on the optical intensity of all pixels containing the image, and a processor to perform spacecraft attitude control, pointing control and target tracker control and data processing functions. The tracker has been configured to operate in both target acquisition and tracking modes. Preliminary simulation results and past experiments on similar trackers indicate that excellent tracking performance can be achieved, and a breadboard version of the tracker is currently being fabricated.

Stanton, R. H.↗