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At least 1,297 records · Page 72

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NASA NTRS1993

Probing Composites With Integrated Polar Backscatter

Integrated polar backscatter (IPB) is technique wherein ultrasonic probe signal incident upon part at non-normal angle of incidence and resulting scattered ultrasonic signal measured and integrated to produce single NDE quantity. Method used to detect and evaluate quantitatively internal conditions of composite materials. One evaluates internal structure of fiber composite and detects such structural defects as those caused by broken fibers, porosity, and inclusions.

Madaras, Eric I.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Instabilities of two-dimensional inviscid compressible vortices

An investigation of the linear stability and subsequent nonlinear evolution and acoustic radiation of a planar inviscid compressible vortex is presented. The effects of the entropy gradient are investigated, and for the particular entropy profile chosen, the positive average entropy in the vortex core is destabilizing, while the opposite is true for the negative average entropy gradient. Finite-difference methods are used to study the linear initial value problem. These methods are found to be capable of accurately computing the frequencies and weak growth rates of the normal modes. When the initial condition consists of random perturbations, the long-time behavior is found to correspond to the most unstable normal mode in all cases. The numerical solution of the Euler equations is used to study the nonlinear development of an elliptic-mode perturbation.

Chan, W. M.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Future requirements in surface modeling and grid generation

The past ten years have seen steady progress in surface modeling procedures, and wholesale changes in grid generation technology. Today, it seems fair to state that a satisfactory grid can be developed to model nearly any configuration of interest. The issues at present focus on operational concerns such as cost and quality. Continuing evolution of the engineering process is placing new demands on the technologies of surface modeling and grid generation. In the evolution toward a multidisciplinary analysis-bascd design environment, methods developed for Computational Fluid Dynamics are finding acceptance in many additional applications. These two trends, the normal evolution of the process and a watershed shift toward concurrent and multidisciplinary analysis, will be considered in assessing current capabilities and needed technological improvements.

Cosner, Raymond R.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Optimization of two dimensional gratings for very long wavelength quantum well infrared photodetectors

We have performed a detailed study of two-dimensional grating coupling for quantum well infrared photodetectors in the very long wavelength spectral region lambda is approximately 16 - 17 microns. Using calculations based on the modal expansion method we quantitatively explain the double peaked responsivity spectrum. By optimizing the grating parameters we achieve a normal incidence responsivity and detectivity which are three times larger than the 45 deg angle of incidence geometry.

Sarusi, G.↗

NASA NTRS1996

The effects of complex chemistry on triple flames

The structure, ignition, and stabilization mechanisms for a methanol (CH3OH)-air triple flame are studied using Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS). The methanol (CH3OH)-air triple flame is found to burn with an asymmetric shape due to the different chemical and transport processes characterizing the mixture. The excess fuel, methanol (CH3OH), on the rich premixed flame branch is replaced by more stable fuels CO and H2, which burn at the diffusion flame. On the lean premixed flame side, a higher concentration of O2 leaks through to the diffusion flame. The general structure of the triple point features the contribution of both differential diffusion of radicals and heat. A mixture fraction-temperature phase plane description of the triple flame structure is proposed to highlight some interesting features in partially premixed combustion. The effects of differential diffusion at the triple point add to the contribution of hydrodynamic effects in the stabilization of the triple flame. Differential diffusion effects are measured using two methods: a direct computation using diffusion velocities and an indirect computation based on the difference between the normalized mixture fractions of C and H. The mixture fraction approach does not clearly identify the effects of differential diffusion, in particular at the curved triple point, because of ambiguities in the contribution of carbon and hydrogen atoms' carrying species.

Echekki, T.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Administration of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen increases macrophage concentrations but reduces necrosis during modified muscle use

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that ibuprofen administration during modified muscle use reduces muscle necrosis and invasion by select myeloid cell populations. METHODS: Rats were subjected to hindlimb unloading for 10 days, after which they experienced muscle reloading by normal weight-bearing to induce muscle inflammation and necrosis. Some animals received ibuprofen by intraperitoneal injection 8 h prior to the onset of muscle reloading, and then again at 8 and 16 h following the onset of reloading. Other animals received buffer injection at 8 h prior to reloading and then ibuprofen at 8 and 16 h following the onset of reloading. Control animals received buffer only at each time point. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis was used to assess the presence of necrotic muscle fibers, total inflammatory infiltrate, neutrophils, ED1+ macrophages and ED2+ macrophages at 24 h following the onset of reloading. RESULT: Administration of ibuprofen beginning 8 h prior to reloading caused significant reduction in the concentration of necrotic fibers, but increased the concentration of inflammatory cells in muscle. The increase in inflammatory cells was attributable to a 2.6-fold increase in the concentration of ED2+ macrophages. Animals treated with ibuprofen 8 h following the onset of reloading showed no decrease in muscle necrosis or increase in ED2+ macrophage concentrations. CONCLUSION: Administration of ibuprofen prior to increased muscle loading reduces muscle damage, but increases the concentration of macrophages that express the ED2 antigen. The increase in ED2+ macrophage concentration and decrease in necrosis may be mechanistically related because ED2+ macrophages have been associated with muscle regeneration and repair.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS2008

16 Weeks of Training with the International Space Station Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (aRED) Is not Different than Training with Free Weights

The advanced Resistive Exercise Device (aRED) is a resistive exercise system designed to maintain muscle mass and strength in microgravity by simulating free weight (FW) exercise. aRED utilizes vacuum cylinders and inertial flywheels to replicate the constant mass and inertial components, respectively, of FW exercise in normal gravity. PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of aRED and FW resistive exercise training in ambulatory subjects. METHODS: Untrained subjects were assigned to two groups, FW (6 males, 3 females) and aRED (8 males, 3 females), and performed squat (SQ), heel raise (HR), and deadlift (DL) exercises 3 d wk-1 for 16 wks. SQ, HR and DL strength (1RM) were measured using FW hardware pre-, mid- and post-training. Subjects participated in a periodized training protocol with the exercise prescription based on a percentage of 1RM. Thigh and lower leg muscle volume were assessed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and leg (LLM) and total body lean mass (BLM) were measured using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) pre- and post-training. RESULTS: SQ 1RM increased in both FW (48.9+/-6.1%) and aRED (31.2+/-3.8%) groups, and there was a greater training response in FW compared with aRED (p=0.01). HR and DL 1RM increased in FW (HR: 12.3+/-2.4%, DL: 23.3+/-4.4%) and aRED (HR: 18.0+/-1.6%, DL: 23.2+'-2.8%), but there were no differences between groups. Thigh muscle volume was greater following training in both groups (FW: 9.8+/-0.9%, aRED: 7.1+/-1.2%) but lower leg muscle volume increased only in the FW group (3.0+/-1.1%). Lean tissue mass increased in both FW (LLM: 3.9+/-1.1%, BLM: 2.5+/-0.7%) and aRED (LLM: 4.8+/-0.7%, BLM: 2.6 0.7%). There were no between group differences in muscle volume or lean mass in response to training. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the increase in muscle strength, muscle volume, and lean tissue mass when training with aRED was not different than when using the same training protocol with FW. The smaller increase in SQ 1RM in the aRED group may be the result of undersizing the aRED flywheels which were intended to mimic the inertial component of the SQ movement when performing FW exercises. However, the biomechanical differences observed in body position during the performance of the aRED SQ, which may have affected training and testing, cannot be excluded as a factor that may have affected SQ 1RM results. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Improvements in muscle strength, muscle volume and lean mass similar to FW exercise training may be elicited using an alternative source of resistance during exercise training. The acceleration of a mass during resistive exercise may result in greater muscle tension when changing the direction of movement resulting in enhanced strength gains. Therefore, to maximize the benefits of resistive exercise, the inertial components of FW exercise should be considered during exercise selection and hardware design. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This investigation was supported by NASA-JSC s Exercise Countermeasures Project.

Loehr, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS2013

Evaluation of Delamination Onset and Growth Characterization Methods under Mode I Fatigue Loading

Double-cantilevered beam specimens of IM7/8552 graphite/epoxy from two different manufacturers were tested in static and fatigue to compare the material characterization data and to evaluate a proposed ASTM standard for generating Paris Law equations for delamination growth. Static results were used to generate compliance calibration constants for reducing the fatigue data, and a delamination resistance curve, GIR, for each material. Specimens were tested in fatigue at different initial cyclic GImax levels to determine a delamination onset curve and the delamination growth rate. The delamination onset curve equations were similar for the two sources. Delamination growth rate was calculated by plotting da/dN versus GImax on a log-log scale and fitting a Paris Law. Two different data reduction methods were used to calculate da/dN. To determine the effects of fiber-bridging, growth results were normalized by the delamination resistance curves. Paris Law exponents decreased by 31% to 37% after normalizing the data. Visual data records from the fatigue tests were used to calculate individual compliance constants from the fatigue data. The resulting da/dN versus GImax plots showed improved repeatability for each source, compared to using averaged static data. The Paris Law expressions for the two sources showed the closest agreement using the individually fit compliance data.

Murri, Gretchen B.↗

NASA NTRS2015

Fe and O EELS Studies of Ion Irradiated Murchison CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite Matrix

Introduction: The physical and chemical response of hydrated carbonaceous chondrite materials to space weathering processes is poorly understood. Improving this understanding is a key part of establishing how regoliths on primitive carbonaceous asteroids respond to space weathering processes, knowledge that supports future sample return missions (Hayabusa 2 and OSIRISREx) that are targeting objects of this type. We previously reported on He+ irradiation of Murchison matrix and showed that the irradiation resulted in amorphization of the matrix phyllosilicates, loss of OH, and surface vesiculation. Here, we report electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements of the irradiated material with emphasis on the Fe and O speciation. Sample and Methods: A polished thin section of the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite was irradiated with 4 kilovolts He(+) (normal incidence) to a total dose of 1 x 10(exp 18) He(+) per square centimeter. We extracted thin sections from both irradiated and unirradiated regions in matrix using focused ion beam (FIB) techniques with electron beam deposition for the protective carbon strap to minimize surface damage artifacts from the FIB milling. The FIB sections were analyzed using a JEOL 2500SE scanning and transmission electron microscope (STEM) equipped with a Gatan Tridiem imaging filter. EELS spectra were collected from 50 nanometer diameter regions with an energy resolution of 0.7 electronvolts FWHM at the zero loss. EELS spectra were collected at low electron doses to minimize possible artifacts from electron-beam irradiation damage. Results and Discussion: Fe L (sub 2,3) EELS spectra from matrix phyllosilicates in CM chondrites show mixed Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) oxidation states with Fe(3+)/Sigma Fe approximately 0.5. Fe L(sub 2,3) spectra from the irradiated/ amorphized matrix phyllosilicates show higher Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) ratios compared to spectra obtained from pristine material at depths beyond the implantation/amorphization layer. We also obtained O Ka spectra from phyllosilicates in both regions of the sample. The O Ka spectra show a pre-edge feature at approximately 530.5 electronvolts that is related to O 2p states hybridized with Fe 3d states. The intensity ratio of the O Ka pre-edge peak relative to the main part of the O Ka edge (that results from transitions of O 1s to 2p states) is lower in the irradiated layer compared to the pristine material and may reflect the loss of O (as OH) as was observed by IR spectroscopy. Conclusions: In addition to amorphization and OH loss, EELS spectra of He(+) irradiated matrix phyllosilicates in Murchison show that some of the Fe(3+) is reduced to Fe(2+). Spectral deconvolution is underway to extract quantitative ratios from the EELS spectra.

Keller, L. P.↗

NASA NTRS2024

An Experimental and Predictive Study of Bent-Chamber Acoustic Liners

Acoustic liner samples with rectangular, sharp chamber bends are 3D-printed and tested in the NASA Normal Incidence Tube. The angle of the bend is varied from 0 to 180 degrees. Four different methods are used to predict the impedance behavior of these samples: (1) midline-length assumption, (2) Cummings correction for curved duct bends, (3) Cummings prediction for 180 degrees sharp duct bends, and (4) Helmholtz equation via finite element method. Trends in the experimental data are discussed, predictions are compared to the experimental data, and recommendations are made on prediction method usage. Follow-on work is suggested, including capturing additional test points at higher frequencies and with different chamber geometries. Future modeling strategies are also briefly described.

chamber↗

NASA NTRS1996

Computation of Thermally Perfect Properties of Oblique Shock Waves

A set of compressible flow relations describing flow properties across oblique shock waves, derived for a thermally perfect, calorically imperfect gas, is applied within the existing thermally perfect gas (TPG) computer code. The relations are based upon a value of cp expressed as a polynomial function of temperature. The updated code produces tables of compressible flow properties of oblique shock waves, as well as the original properties of normal shock waves and basic isentropic flow, in a format similar to the tables for normal shock waves found in NACA Rep. 1135. The code results are validated in both the calorically perfect and the calorically imperfect, thermally perfect temperature regimes through comparisons with the theoretical methods of NACA Rep. 1135, and with a state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics code. The advantages of the TPG code for oblique shock wave calculations, as well as for the properties of isentropic flow and normal shock waves, are its ease of use, and its applicability to any type of gas (monatomic, diatomic, triatomic, polyatomic, or any specified mixture thereof).

Tatum, Kenneth E.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Photovoltaic inverter-based quantification of snow conditions and power loss

Snow is a significant challenge for photovoltaic (PV) systems at northern latitudes, where the pace of deployment is rapid but snow-related power losses can exceed 30% of annual production. Accurate snow-related power loss estimation methods for utility-scale sites can support snow mitigation strategies, inform resource planning and validate predictive snow-loss models. This study builds on our previous work on inverter-based detection of snow, and its implications for utility-scale power production, by validating the accuracy of our snow-loss method across different PV sites and system designs and highlighting its value in bringing greater visibility to PV plant operations in winter. Our estimation method is both novel and scalable, requiring only standard monitoring data to correlate snow-related losses with meteorological data. As demonstrated here, our validation method involved three main steps: 1) estimation of performance losses for multiple systems by comparing measured inverter data to modeled data; 2) application of a detection framework to identify which performance losses are snow-related; and 3) comparison of snow-related losses among three utility-scale sites differing in tilt angle. Results show that utility-scale systems at higher tilt angles consistently shed snow more quickly/completely than their lower-tilt counterparts. Further, monthly and seasonal snow losses are inversely and non-linearly correlated with tilt angle when normalized for cumulative snowfall. These results are consistent with the findings of previous studies and support the broad applicability of this method to fixed-tilt utility-scale PV systems around the world that routinely experience snow-related performance losses.

Cooper, Emma C. (ORCID:0000000190554098)↗

DOE OSTI2026

Efficient CP Rounding Using Alternating Least Squares with QR Decomposition

The CANDECOMP/PARAFAC (CP) decomposition is widely used for analyzing multidimensional data, and the alternating least squares (CP-ALS) algorithm is a common method for its computation. CP rounding is the problem of computing a lower-rank CP decomposition of an input already in a higher-rank CP format. While the normal equations (NE) approach in CP-ALS is efficient for the CP rounding problem and frequently used, it becomes unstable in the presence of ill-conditioned subproblems. This paper presents a new QR-based CP-ALS method for CP rounding that preserves both numerical stability and computational efficiency. Here, our experiments show that the proposed method offers significant speedup over a previous QR-based approach and the Tensor Toolbox's NE-based implementation, particularly for higher-order tensors. Furthermore, our approach demonstrates a marked reduction in error for ill-conditioned problems, with error reductions several orders of magnitude smaller compared to the NE-based method, while achieving faster convergence and more accurate solutions. By using a more numerically stable approach, we can solve more problems in reduced working precision, which enables further reduction in time to solution.

CANDECOMP/PARAFAC↗

DOE OSTI2024

Assessment of Envelope- and Machine Learning-Based Electrical Fault Type Detection Algorithms for Electrical Distribution Grids

This study introduces envelope- and machine learning (ML)-based electrical fault type detection algorithms for electrical distribution grids, advancing beyond traditional logic-based methods. The proposed detection model involves three stages: anomaly area detection, ML-based fault presence detection, and ML-based fault type detection. Initially, an envelope-based detector identifying the anomaly region was improved to handle noisier power grid signals from meters. The second stage acts as a switch, detecting the presence of a fault among four classes: normal, motor, switching, and fault. Finally, if a fault is detected, the third stage identifies specific fault types. This study explored various feature extraction methods and evaluated different ML algorithms to maximize prediction accuracy. The performance of the proposed algorithms is tested in an emulated software–hardware electrical grid testbed using different sample rate meters/relays, such as SEL735, SEL421, SEL734, SEL700GT, and SEL351S near and far from an inverter-based photovoltaic array farm. The performance outcomes demonstrate the proposed model’s robustness and accuracy under realistic conditions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

NASA NTRS1981

Calculation of vortex lift effect for cambered wings by the suction analogy

An improved version of Woodward's chord plane aerodynamic panel method for subsonic and supersonic flow is developed for cambered wings exhibiting edge separated vortex flow, including those with leading edge vortex flaps. The exact relation between leading edge thrust and suction force in potential flow is derived. Instead of assuming the rotated suction force to be normal to wing surface at the leading edge, new orientation for the rotated suction force is determined through consideration of the momentum principle. The supersonic suction analogy method is improved by using an effective angle of attack defined through a semi-empirical method. Comparisons of predicted results with available data in subsonic and supersonic flow are presented.

Lan, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1975

An investigation of airflow over the aft portions of a variable sweep fighter configuration

An investigation of air flow over the aft portions of a variable sweep fighter aircraft configuration was made. Tests conducted in the unitary plan wind tunnel at Mach number 2.16 included measurements of forces, moments, and local static pressures as well as visual recordings of the air flow. An aerodynamic analytical prediction method was evaluated when used in data comparison at angles of attack of 0, 5, and 15 degrees. The results indicate that in supersonic flow the typical outboard located twin vertical tail arrangement tends to provide a more positive increment in normal-force on the afterbody fuselage and the horizontal tail than a single center-mounted vertical tail of similar planform shape. In addition, the results indicate that a method for aerodynamic analysis of wing-body-tail configurations currently available can provide reasonable estimates of pressure coefficient distributions on configurations in regions of complex supersonic flow. At this time, however, the available analytical method cannot adequately replace experimental wind tunnel tests for determining the supersonic flow environment of a given configuration.

Graves, E. B.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Study of effects of design details on structural response to acoustic excitation

The normal mode vibration characteristics of one-dimensional and two-dimensional panel arrays were investigated analytically and experimentally. The finite element displacement method was used to formulate the structural models. The structural models include a stiffness and consistent mass matrix for thin-walled open-section beams not previously reported, and a modification of a rectangular plate bending element to include a fundamental interior mode for the element as a generalized coordinate. Provision for adding lumped masses to represent accelerometers is also included. For the one-dimensional panel, the normal mode stress resultants are obtained by integrating the equilibrium equations directly. For the two-dimensional panel arrays, the solution for the stress resultants in the cover sheet was attempted by introducing stress functions dependent upon the displacement field of the plate element. This approach, although incomplete, is a natural extension of the one-dimensional analysis for plate elements. The exerimental program which was used to verify the analysis is described and experimental results are compared with the analysis.

Rudder, F. F., Jr.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Calculator for Agricultural Water Use Fractions in California

Improved quantification of agricultural water use efficiency is a primary focus of California's Water Conservation Act. The California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), after extensive stakeholder consultation, has published methods and indicators to help identify opportunities for improved efficiency of irrigation management at various spatial scales. Additional 2017 legislation directs water suppliers to quantify water use efficiency using the CDWR metrics to support preparation of agricultural water management plans. The IrriQuest calculator derives the Crop Consumptive Use Fraction (CCUF), a foundational metric relating seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ET) to total applied water. Satellite normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data are used to develop fractional canopy cover timeseries. Additional key inputs include daily reference ET, irrigation volume, irrigation method, precipitation, soil texture and crop type. IrriQuest estimates of seasonal crop ET show less than 10% mean absolute error compared to ground-based measurements of several annual and perennial crops monitored by sensor deployment in commercial fields. Two additional indicators build on CCUF. The Agronomic Water Use Fraction adds consideration of water applied for beneficial purposes such as pre-plant soil preparation, soil salinity management, and climate control. Total Water Use Fraction additionally accounts for water applied for environmental purposes such as maintenance of wetland and riparian habitat. A convenient on-line portal is under development for CCUF estimation and a standalone spreadsheet is available for computation of all three use fractions.

Calculator↗