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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 1,531 records · Page 85
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Charged particle propagation in strong disordered magnetic fields

The use of quasilinear theory in calculating particle trajectories in strong random fields is beset by a basic difficulty concerning the breakdown of the basic assumption of the theory. This assumption is that the random force acting on the particle becomes self-incoherent before it has changed the particle's trajectory in phase space, ie., its position or velocity, by a significant amount. The various time scales involved in this problem are defined and compared to determine in which regions the basic assumptions of quasilinear theory are violated. It is shown how nonlinear theories in general and the Partially Averaged Field theory (Jones et al. 1973) can partly alleviate these difficulties.

Jones, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Simulation of the velocity diffusion of charged particles in turbulent magnetic fields

Numerical simulation experiments have been performed in order to study the velocity diffusion of charged particles in a static turbulent magnetic field. By following orbits of particles moving in a large ensemble of random magnetic field realizations with suitably-chosen statistical properties, a pitch-angle diffusion coefficient is derived. Results are presented for a variety of particle rigidities and r.m.s. random field strengths and a power spectrum typical of conditions found in interplanetary space.

Kaiser, T. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Low pressure radon diffusion - A laboratory study and its implications for lunar venting

Results of a study of radon migration through columns of fine particulate materials, at total pressures of 0.02-0.2 torr, are reported. Materials studied were: NBS Glass Spheres (SRM 1003), Emerson & Cuming Eccospheres (IG-101), activated coconut charcoal, Lipaci obsidian, and W-1 Standard Diabase. Rates of diffusion were used to derive heats of adsorption for radon on the materials tested. The most reliable values found clustered around 8-9 kcal/mole. These high heats of adsorption, if typical for most materials, combined with low percentages of radon emanation by lunar soils found by other researchers, imply that random walk diffusion will not be an important mechanism for redistributing the radon and the radon daughters produced in the lunar regolith. In particular, since random walk migration is not a sufficient mechanism to account for localized high concentrations of radon-222 and its daughter polonium-210 observed by the Apollo 15 and 16 command modules, an alternative mechanism is proposed, in which radon would be swept to the surface by other gases during intermittent venting events.

Friesen, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A reliability-based cost effective fail-safe design procedure

The authors have developed a methodology for cost-effective fatigue design of structures subject to random fatigue loading. A stochastic model for fatigue crack propagation under random loading has been discussed. Fracture mechanics is then used to estimate the parameters of the model and the residual strength of structures with cracks. The stochastic model and residual strength variations have been used to develop procedures for estimating the probability of failure and its changes with inspection frequency. This information on reliability is then used to construct an objective function in terms of either a total weight function or cost function. A procedure for selecting the design variables, subject to constraints, by optimizing the objective function has been illustrated by examples. In particular, optimum design of stiffened panel has been discussed.

Hanagud, S.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Monte Carlo investigation of thrust imbalance of solid rocket motor pairs

The Monte Carlo method of statistical analysis is used to investigate the theoretical thrust imbalance of pairs of solid rocket motors (SRMs) firing in parallel. Sets of the significant variables are selected using a random sampling technique and the imbalance calculated for a large number of motor pairs using a simplified, but comprehensive, model of the internal ballistics. The treatment of burning surface geometry allows for the variations in the ovality and alignment of the motor case and mandrel as well as those arising from differences in the basic size dimensions and propellant properties. The analysis is used to predict the thrust-time characteristics of 130 randomly selected pairs of Titan IIIC SRMs. A statistical comparison of the results with test data for 20 pairs shows the theory underpredicts the standard deviation in maximum thrust imbalance by 20% with variability in burning times matched within 2%. The range in thrust imbalance of Space Shuttle type SRM pairs is also estimated using applicable tolerances and variabilities and a correction factor based on the Titan IIIC analysis.

Sforzini, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The interplanetary magnetic field and energetic electrons from Jupiter

The reported four-month 'season' for observation of Jovian electron events at AU is shown to be a plausible consequence of field-line random walk in the solar wind. Values of the field-line random-walk coefficient deduced earlier in connection with observations of solar protons, photospheric supergranulation, and the interplanetary magnetic-field power spectrum, lead to an approximate value for the spread of Jovian electrons at 1 AU, which corresponds to an approximate four-month duration of events. This model is consistent with a point source at Jupiter.

Jokipii, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Optical mass memories

Optical and magnetic variants in the design of trillion-bit read/write memories are compared and tabulated. Components and materials suitable for a random access read/write nonmoving memory system are examined, with preference given to holography and photoplastic materials. Advantages and deficiencies of photoplastics are reviewed. Holographic page composer design, essential features of an optical memory with no moving parts, fiche-oriented random access memory design, and materials suitable for an efficient photoplastic fiche are considered. The optical variants offer advantages in lower volume and weight at data transfer rates near 1 Mbit/sec, but power drain is of the same order as for the magnetic variants (tape memory, disk memory). The mechanical properties of photoplastic film materials still leave much to be desired.

Bailey, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Flight simulation testing equipment for composite material systems

A test program is discussed which aims at establishing the time-temperature-stress characteristics of several classes of high-temperature composite materials in order to determine their suitability for applications in supersonic cruise aircraft. Five advanced composite materials (a boron epoxy, a boron polyimide, a graphite epoxy, a graphite polyimide, and diffusion-bonded boron aluminum) are being evaluated using a flight-test simulator capable of long-term automatic testing based on random loading and realistic flight temperature profiles. The design, construction, and checkout of this simulator are described along with the digital load programmer, load magnitude controllers, the hydraulic pumping system, the heating and cooling systems, the control console, and the data recording system. Typical results for short-term tests performed at constant temperatures and accelerated load rates are presented in terms of a random-load spectrum and a wearout model.

Haskins, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Measurement of bit-error rate

Error rate of RF digital communication link is measured at low signal-to-noise ratios using this technique. In this method, identical pseudo-random sequences of pulses are generated at transmitter and receiver of link. However, comparison of two sequences at receiver involves integration that makes bit-tracking threshold depend on length of pseudo-random sequence, rather than on actual rate of transmission of individual bits.

Fowler, J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Three-level sampler having automated thresholds

A three-level sampler is described that has its thresholds controlled automatically so as to track changes in the statistics of the random process being sampled. In particular, the mean value is removed and the ratio of the standard deviation of the random process to the threshold is maintained constant. The system is configured in such a manner that slow drifts in the level comparators and digital-to-analog converters are also removed. The ratio of the standard deviation to threshold level may be chosen within the constraints of the ratios of two integers N and M. These may be chosen to minimize the quantizing noise of the sampled process.

Jurgens, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Noise and vibration ride comfort criteria

Two of the most important factors, namely, vibration and noise, were studied to (1) determine whether composite or separate noise and vibration criteria are needed for the prediction of ride quality, (2) determine a noise correction for the previously-defined vibration criteria of the ride quality model, (3) assess whether these noise corrections depend on the nature of the vibration stimuli, i.e., deterministic as opposed to random, and (4) specify noise-vibration criteria for this combined environment. The stimuli for the study consisted of octave bands of noise centered at 500 or 2,000 Hz and vertical vibrations composed of either 5 Hz sinusoidal vibration or random vibrations centered at 5 Hz and with a 5 Hz bandwidth. The noise stimuli were presented at levels ranging from ambient to 95 dB(A) and the vibrations at levels ranging from 0.02 to 0.13g rms.

Dempsey, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Macroscopic study of time unsteady noise of an aircraft engine during static tests

Static tests of aircraft engines can exhibit greater than 10 db random unsteadiness of tone noise levels because flow disturbances that prevail near test site facilities are ingested. Presumably such changes are related to installation and test site features. Some properties of unsteady noise observed during tests of a Lycoming YF-102 turbofan engine are presented. Time and spatial variations in tone noise obtained from closely spaced far field and inlet duct microphones are displayed. Long to extremely short intermittent tone bursts are observed. Unsteadiness of the tone, its harmonics, and the broadband noise show little similarity. In the far field, identity of tone bursts is retained over a directivity angle of less than 10 deg. In the inlet duct, tone bursts appear to propagate axially but exhibit little circumferential similarity. They show only slight relationship to tone bursts observed in the far field. The results imply an intermittent generation of random mixtures of propagating duct modes.

Clark, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Data processing/display design for the space shuttle/spacelab Electromagnetic Environment Experiment (EEE)

Methods for data analysis, data compression including universal coding, storage and retrieval on random access storage devices, and display were developed and implemented on the GSFC Interdata computer. The original 64 bit per frequency band representation was reduced to 10 bits through source coding/universal coding, a compression ratio of 6.4, prior to storage. Rapid encoding/decoding was achieved by the algorithms used so that rapid random access is retained.

Davisson, L. D.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Vibration testing of the JE-M-604-4-IUE rocket motor (Thiokol P/N E 28639-03)

The NASA International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) rocket motor (TE-M-604-4), a solid fuel, spherical rocket motor, was vibration tested in the Impact, Vibration, and Acceleration (IVA) Test Unit of the von Karman Gas Dynamics Facility (VKF). The objective of the test program was to subject the motor to qualification levels of sinusoidal and random vibration prior to the altitude firing of the motor in the Propulsion Development Test Cell (T-3), Engine Test Facility (ETF), AEDC. The vibration testing consisted of a low level sine survey from 5 to 2,000 Hz, followed by a qualification level sine sweep and qualification level random vibration. A second low level sine survey followed the qualification level testing. This sequence of testing was accomplished in each of three orthogonal axes. No motor problems were observed due to the imposition of these dynamic environments.

Alt, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Computer simulation of the velocity diffusion of cosmic rays

Monte Carlo simulation experiments were performed in order to study the velocity diffusion of charged particles in a static turbulent magnetic field. By following orbits of particles moving in a large ensemble of random magnetic field realizations with suitable chosen statistical properties, a pitch-angle diffusion coefficient is derived. Results are presented for a variety of particle rigidities and rms random field strengths and compared with the predictions of standard quasi-linear theory and the nonlinear partially averaged field theory.

Kaiser, T. B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Shuttle program: Ground tracking data program document shuttle OFT launch/landing

The equations for processing ground tracking data during a space shuttle ascent or entry, or any nonfree flight phase of a shuttle mission are given. The resulting computer program processes data from up to three stations simultaneously: C-band station number 1; C-band station number 2; and an S-band station. The C-band data consists of range, azimuth, and elevation angle measurements. The S-band data consists of range, two angles, and integrated Doppler data in the form of cycle counts. A nineteen element state vector is used in Kalman filter to process the measurements. The acceleration components of the shuttle are taken to be independent exponentially-correlated random variables. Nine elements of the state vector are the measurement bias errors associated with range and two angles for each tracking station. The biases are all modeled as exponentially-correlated random variables with a typical time constant of 108 seconds. All time constants are taken to be the same for all nine state variables. This simplifies the logic in propagating the state error covariance matrix ahead in time.

Lear, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Lunar crater arcs

An analysis has been made of the tendency of large lunar craters to lie along circles. A catalog of the craters at least 50 km in diameter was prepared first, noting position, diameter, rim sharpness and completion, nature of underlying surface, and geological age. The subset of those craters 50-400 km in diameter was then used as input to computer programs which identified each 'family' of four or more craters of selected geological age lying on a circular arc. For comparison, families were also identified for randomized crater models in which the crater spatial density was matched to that on the moon, either overall or separately for mare and highland areas. The observed frequency of lunar arcuate families was statistically highly significantly greater than for the randomized models, for craters classified as either late-pre-Imbrian (Nectarian), middle pre-Imbrian, or early pre-Imbrian, as well as for a number of larger age-classes. The lunar families tend to center in specific areas of the moon; these lie in highlands rather than maria and are different for families of Nectarian craters than for pre-Nectarian. The origin of the arcuate crater groupings is not understood.

Jaffe, L. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Problems inherent in using aircraft for radio oceanography studies

Some of the disadvantages relating to altitude stability and proximity to the ocean are described for radio oceanography studies using aircraft. The random oscillatory motion introduced by the autopilot in maintaining aircraft altitude requires a more sophisticated range tracker for a radar altimeter than would be required in a satellite application. One-dimensional simulations of the sea surface (long-crested waves) are performed using both the JONSWAP spectrum and the Pierson-Moskowitz spectrum. The results of the simulation indicate that care must be taken in trying to experimentally verify instrument measurement accuracy. Because of the relatively few wavelengths examined from an aircraft due to proximity to the ocean and low velocity compared to a satellite, the random variation in the sea surface parameters being measured can far exceed an instrument's ability to measure them.

Walsh, E. J.↗