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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 1,369 records · Page 76
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Robotic Variable Polarity Plasma Arc (VPPA) Welding

The need for automated plasma welding was identified in the early stages of the Space Station Freedom Program (SSFP) because it requires approximately 1.3 miles of welding for assembly. As a result of the Variable Polarity Plasma Arc Welding (VPPAW) process's ability to make virtually defect-free welds in aluminum, it was chosen to fulfill the welding needs. Space Station Freedom will be constructed of 2219 aluminum utilizing the computer controlled VPPAW process. The 'Node Radial Docking Port', with it's saddle shaped weld path, has a constantly changing surface angle over 360 deg of the 282 inch weld. The automated robotic VPPAW process requires eight-axes of motion (six-axes of robot and two-axes of positioner movement). The robot control system is programmed to maintain Torch Center Point (TCP) orientation perpendicular to the part while the part positioner is tilted and rotated to maintain the vertical up orientation as required by the VPPAW process. The combined speed of the robot and the positioner are integrated to maintain a constant speed between the part and the torch. A laser-based vision sensor system has also been integrated to track the seam and map the surface of the profile during welding.

Jaffery, Waris S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Polarization of the far-infrared emission from the thermal filaments of the Galactic center arc

The polarization of the 100 micron continuum emission has been measured at 14 positions in the dense, warm molecular cloud associated with the arched filaments, or the 'bridge', of the radio arc near the Galactic center. At all positions the percent polarization is found to be quite large, ranging up to 6.5 percent. The polarization is interpreted in terms of thermal emission by magnetically aligned dust grains. The directions of the polarization vectors then indicate that the magnetic field is (1) parallel to the long dimension of the thermal radio filaments, and (2) very uniform on scales of 1-10 pc. Of several explanations for the inferred field geometry, the simplest is that it results from the unusually large dynamical shear in the emitting cloud.

Morris, M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Resistivity due to weak double layers - A model for auroral arc thickness

We have calculated the resistivity due to a sequence of fluctuating weak double layers aligned parallel to the ambient magnetic field line. The average response of an electron drifting through a 1D randomly oriented array of WDLs is studied using a test particle approach. The average is taken over the randomly fluctuating values of the electric field associated with the double layers. Based on our calculations, we estimate that a 350 eV electron energy the thickness of the visual auroral arc is about 2.5 km and that of the auroral fine structure as about 250 m when mapped down to the ionosphere. The significance of our calculations is discussed in the context of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.

Prakash, Manju↗
NASA NTRS1992

Arc jet testing in NASA Ames Research Center thermophysics facilities

The Arc Jet Complex facilities at NASA Ames and their performance capabilities and support systems are presented. An overview of the typical testing procedures is provided. Attention is focused on a basic understanding of the types of facilities available at Ames for aerothermodynamic testing.

Balter-Peterson, Aliza↗
NASA NTRS1992

Space Station Freedom structure floating potential and the probability of arcing

The interaction between a space system and the space environment has been one of the driving questions for the design of spacecraft since the dawn of the space age. The Space Station Freedom will represent a significant increase in spacecraft size, power, and activity relative to spacecraft that are currently in orbit. The structure floating potential on Space Station Freedom is studied with simple analytical models of the current collection. The probability of arcing due to dielectric breakdown is assessed.

Hastings, Daniel E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Intrusive and nonintrusive measurements of flow properties in arc jets

While numerous diagnostic techniques are available for determining the flow properties of arc jets, these have to be used complementarily in order to cover all the requisite information. Although intrusive techniques disturb the flow, they yield much information. The determination of total enthalpy remains a major challenge, and accurate heat-flux measurements entail knowledge of atom recombination and chemical energy recombination coefficients. Such state-specific methods as the spectroscopic and laser techniques are useful in understanding the chemistry and nonequilibrium reaction and excitation rates of the flow.

Scott, Carl D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Short-arc orbit determination using coherent X-band ranging data

The use of X-band frequencies in ground-spacecraft and spacecraft-ground telecommunication links for current and future robotic interplanetary missions makes it possible to perform ranging measurements of greater accuracy than previously obtained. It is shown that ranging data of sufficient accuracy, when acquired from multiple stations, can sense the geocentric angular position of a distant spacecraft. The application of high-accuracy S/X-band and X-band ranging to orbit determination with relatively short data arcs is investigated in planetary approach and encounter scenarios. Actual trajectory solutions for the Ulysses spacecraft constructed from S/X-band ranging and Doppler data are presented; error covariance calculations are used to predict the performance of X-band ranging and Doppler data. The Ulysses trajectory solutions indicate that the aim point for the spacecraft's February 1992 Jupiter encounter was predicted to a geocentric accuracy of 0.20 to 0.23/microrad. Explicit modeling of range bias parameters for each station pass is shown to largely remove systematic ground system calibration errors and transmission media effects from the Ulysses range measurements, which would otherwise corrupt the angle finding capabilities of the data. The Ulysses solutions were found to be reasonably consistent with the theoretical results, which suggest that angular accuracies of 0.08 to 0.1/microrad are achievable with X-band ranging.

Thurman, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Statistics of arcs in clusters of galaxies

Samples of gravitational lens events in clusters show many large arcs compared to arclets, relative to what can be obtained by idealized singular lens models. We describe the probability of image magnification for point sources and for simple but more realistic gravitational lensing models that include a finite core size and an ellipticity. In addition, we explore the changes in the probability distribution of image magnifications, distortions, and angular extents for sources of different sizes as the parameters of the lenses are varied. A finite core in spherically symmetric lens models introduces a discontinuity in the probability distribution at which the relative number of highly magnified images is increased. In elliptical lenses, this discontinuity and its effect are replaced by a continuous increase in the probability of obtaining high-magnification images relative to singular spherically symmetric models. We also find that the finite size of the source causes a further increase in the expected number of images just below the maximum possible magnification.

Bergmann, Anton G.↗
NASA NTRS1955

Flight Investigation at Mach Numbers from 0.6 to 1.7 to Determine Drag and Base Pressures on a Blunt Trailing-edge Airfoil and Drag of Diamond and Circular-arc Airfoils at Zero Lift

Results of an exploratory free-flight investigation at zero lift of several rocket-powered drag-research models having rectangular 6-percent-thick wings are presented for a Mach number range of 0.6 to 1.7. Wings having diamond, circular-arc, and blunt-trailing-edge airfoil sections were tested. Pressures over the base of the blunt-trailing-edge airfoil were measured. The drags of all the models were measured and are compared with theory in this paper.

Morrow, John D↗
NASA NTRS1951

An Investigation of Flow Characteristics at Mach Number 4.04 over 6- and 9-percent-thick Symmetrical Circular-arc Airfoils Having 30-percent-chord Trailing-edge Flaps

Section data obtained from wind-tunnel tests at Mach number 4.04 and Reynolds numbers of about 5.0 times 10 to the 6th power and 8.4 times 10 to the 6th power are presented for 6- and 9-percent-thick symmetrical circular-arc airfoils with 30 percent chord trailing-edge flaps. Pressure distributions, Schlieren photographs, and force and moment coefficients are included.

FLOW, VISCOUS↗
NASA NTRS1953

Aerodynamic Forces and Loadings on Symmetrical Circular-Arc Airfoils with Plain Leading-Edge and Plain Trailing-Edge Flaps

An investigation has been made in the Langley two-dimensional low-turbulence tunnel and in the Langley two-dimensional low-pressure tunnel of 6- and 10-percent-thick symmetrical circular-arc airfoil sections at low Mach numbers and several Reynolds numbers. The airfoils were equipped with 0.15-chord plain leading-edge flaps and 0.20-chord plan trailing-edge flaps. The section lift and pitching-moment characteristics were determined for both airfoils with the flaps deflected individually and in combination. The section drag characteristics were obtained for the 6-percent-thick airfoil with the flaps partly deflected as low-drag-control flaps and for airfoils with the flaps neutral. Surface pressures were measured on the 6-percent-thick airfoil section with the flaps deflected either individually or in appropriate combination to furnish flap load and hinge-moment data applicable to the structural design of the airfoil. A generalized method is developed that permits the determination of the chordwise pressure distribution over sharp-edge airfoils with plain leading-edge flaps and plain trailing-edge flaps of arbitrary size and deflection.

Cahill, Jones F↗
NASA NTRS1944

Measurements in Flight of the Lateral-Control Characteristics of an Airplane Equipped with Full-Span Zap Flaps and Simple Circular-Arc-Type Ailerons

Flight tests were conducted on the OS2U-2 seaplane with simple circular-arc-type ailerons directly connected to the actuating torque tube. Two aileron test installations were made, differing only in the inclination of the projecting surface with the wing's upper surface. The lateral-control characteristics of the airplane were determined from data obtained in stalls and rudder-fixed aileron rolls. The revised ailerons were deficient in maximum rolling effectiveness, but were capable of controlling the rolling tendencies of the airplane near the stall.

AILERON CONTROLS - VOUGHT OS2U-2↗
NASA NTRS1994

Neural-Network Modeling Of Arc Welding

Artificial neural networks considered for use in monitoring and controlling gas/tungsten arc-welding processes. Relatively simple network, using 4 welding equipment parameters as inputs, estimates 2 critical weld-bead paramaters within 5 percent. Advantage is computational efficiency.

Anderson, Kristinn↗
NASA NTRS1994

UAH mathematical model of the variable polarity plasma ARC welding system calculation

Significant advantages of Variable Polarity Plasma Arc (VPPA) welding process include faster welding, fewer repairs, less joint preparation, reduced weldment distortion, and absence of porosity. A mathematical model is presented to analyze the VPPA welding process. Results of the mathematical model were compared with the experimental observation accomplished by the GDI team.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

High temperature arc-track resistant aerospace insulation

The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: high temperature aerospace insulation; Foster-Miller approach to develop a 300 C rated, arc-track resistant aerospace insulation; advantages and disadvantages of key structural features; summary goals and achievements of the phase 1 program; performance goals for selected materials; materials under evaluation; molecular structures of candidate polymers; candidate polymer properties; film properties; and a detailed program plan.

Dorogy, William↗
NASA NTRS1994

Sensing the gas metal arc welding process

Control of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) requires real-time sensing of the process. Three sensing techniques for GMAW are being developed at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). These are (1) noncontacting ultrasonic sensing using a laser/EMAT (electromagnetic acoustic transducer) to detect defects in the solidified weld on a pass-by-pass basis, (2) integrated optical sensing using a CCD camera and a laser stripe to obtain cooling rate and weld bead geometry information, and (3) monitoring fluctuations in digitized welding voltage data to detect the mode of metal droplet transfer and assure that the desired mass input is achieved.

Carlson, N. M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Plasma arc welding weld imaging

A welding torch for plasma arc welding apparatus has a transparent shield cup disposed about the constricting nozzle, the cup including a small outwardly extending polished lip. A guide tube extends externally of the torch and has a free end adjacent to the lip. First and second optical fiber bundle assemblies are supported within the guide tube. Light from a strobe light is transmitted along one of the assemblies to the free end and through the lip onto the weld site. A lens is positioned in the guide tube adjacent to the second assembly and focuses images of the weld site onto the end of the fiber bundle of the second assembly and these images are transmitted along the second assembly to a video camera so that the weld site may be viewed continuously for monitoring the welding process.

Rybicki, Daniel J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

A study of gas flow pattern, undercutting and torch modification in variable polarity plasma arc welding

A study on the plasma and shield gas flow patterns in variable polarity plasma arc (VPPA) welding was undertaken by shadowgraph techniques. Visualization of gas flow under different welding conditions was obtained. Undercutting is often present with aluminum welds. The effects of torch alignment, shield gas flow rate and gas contamination on undercutting were investigated and suggestions made to minimize the defect. A modified shield cup for the welding torch was fabricated which consumes much less shield gas while maintaining the weld quality. The current torch was modified with a trailer flow for Al-Li welding, in which hot cracking is a critical problem. The modification shows improved weldablility on these alloys.

Mcclure, John C.↗