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At least 1,585 records · Page 88

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2013

Nickel-Graphite Composite Compliant Interface and/or Hot Shoe Material

Next-generation high-temperature thermoelectric-power-generating devices will employ segmented architectures and will have to reliably withstand thermally induced mechanical stresses produced during component fabrication, device assembly, and operation. Thermoelectric materials have typically poor mechanical strength, exhibit brittle behavior, and possess a wide range of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) values. As a result, the direct bonding at elevated temperatures of these materials to each other to produce segmented leg components is difficult, and often results in localized microcracking at interfaces and mec hanical failure due to the stresses that arise from the CTE mismatch between the various materials. Even in the absence of full mechanical failure, degraded interfaces can lead to increased electrical and thermal resistances, which adversely impact conversion efficiency and power output. The proposed solution is the insertion of a mechanically compliant layer, with high electrical and thermal conductivity, between the low- and high-temperature segments to relieve thermomechanical stresses during device fabrication and operation. This composite material can be used as a stress-relieving layer between the thermoelectric segments and/or between a thermoelectric segment and a hot- or cold-side interconnect material. The material also can be used as a compliant hot shoe. Nickel-coated graphite powders were hot-pressed to form a nickel-graphite composite material. A freestanding thermoelectric segmented leg was fabricated by brazing the compliant pad layer between the high-temperature p- Zintl and low-temperature p-SKD TE segments using Cu-Ag braze foils. The segmented leg stack was heated in vacuum under a compressive load to achieve bonding. The novelty of the innovation is the use of composite material that re duces the thermomechanical stresses en - countered in the construction of high-efficiency, high-temperature therm - o-electric devices. The compliant pad enables the bonding of dissimilar thermoelectric materials while maintaining the desired electrical and thermal properties essential for efficient device operation. The modulus, CTE, electrical, and thermal conductances of the composite can be controlled by varying the ratio of nickel to graphite.

Firdosy, Samad A.↗

DOE OSTI2018

Interaction Between Proppant Compaction and Single-/Multiphase Flows in a Hydraulic Fracture

Understanding proppant-transport and -deposition patterns in a hydraulic fracture is vital for effective and economical production of petroleum hydrocarbons. In this research, a numerical-modeling approach, combining the discrete-element method (DEM) with single-/multiphase lattice Boltzmann (LB) simulation, was adopted to advance understanding of the interaction between reservoir depletion, proppant-particle compaction, and single-/multiphase flows in a hydraulic fracture. DEM was used to simulate effective-stress increase and the resultant proppant-particle movement and rearrangement during the process of reservoir depletion caused by hydrocarbon production. Simulated pore structure of the proppant pack was extracted and used as boundary conditions in the LB simulation to calculate the time-dependent permeability of the proppant pack. We first validated the DEM-LB numerical work flow, and the simulated proppant-pack permeabilities as functions of effective stress were in good agreement with laboratory measurements. Furthermore, three proppant packs with the same average particle diameter but different diameter distributions were generated to study the role of proppant-size heterogeneity (variation in particle diameter). Specifically, we used the coefficient of variation (COV) of diameter, defined as the ratio of standard deviation of diameter to mean diameter, to characterize the heterogeneity of particle size. We obtained proppant-pack porosity, permeability, and fracture-width reduction (closure distance) as functions of effective stress. Under the same effective stress, a proppant pack with a higher diameter COV had lower porosity and permeability and larger fracture-width reduction. This was because the high diameter COV gave rise to a wider diameter distribution of proppant particles; smaller particles were compressed into the pore space between larger particles with increasing stress, leading to larger closure distance and lower porosity and permeability. With multiphase LB simulation, relative permeability curves were obtained, which are critical for larger-scale reservoir simulations under various effective stresses. The relative permeability of the oil phase was more sensitive to changes in geometry and stress, compared with the wetting phase. This was because the oil phase occupied larger pores; compaction of the proppant pack affected the structure of the pores, because the pores were farther from the grain contacts and thus more susceptible to collapse. It is also interesting to note that when effective stress increased continuously, oil relative permeability increased first and then decreased. This nonmonotonic behavior was the result of the nonmonotonic development of pore structure and oil connectivity under increasing stress.

Fan, Ming↗

DOE OSTI2024

Compression Acceleration of Protons and Heavier Ions at the Heliospheric Current Sheet

Abstract Recent observations by the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) suggest that protons and heavier ions are accelerated to high energies by magnetic reconnection at the heliospheric current sheet (HCS). By solving the energetic particle transport equation in large-scale MHD simulations, we study the compression acceleration of protons and heavier ions in the reconnecting HCS. We find that the acceleration of multispecies ions results in nonthermal power-law distributions with a spectral index consistent with the PSP observations. Our study shows that the high-energy cutoff of protons can reach E max ∼ 0.1 –1 MeV depending on the particle diffusion coefficients. We also study how the high-energy cutoff of different ion species scales with the charge-to-mass ratio E max ∝ ( Q / M ) α . When determining the diffusion coefficients from the quasi-linear theory with a Kolmogorov magnetic power spectrum, we find that α ∼ 0.4, which is somewhat smaller than α ∼ 0.7 observed by PSP.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1982

Chordwise and compressibility corrections for arbitrary planform slender wings

The Lomax and Sluder method for adapting slender-wing theory to delta or rectangular wings by making chordwise and compressibility corrections is extended to cover wings of any arbitrary planform in subsonic and supersonic flows. The numerical accuracy of the present work is better than that of the Lomax-Sluder results. Comparison of the results of this work with those of the vortex-lattice method and Kernel function method for a family of Gothic and arrowhead wings shows good agreement. A universal curve is proposed for the evaluation of the lift coefficient of a low aspect ratio wing of an arbitrary planform in subsonic flow. The location of the center of pressure can also be estimated.

Levin, D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Theory versus experiment for the rotordynamic coefficients of labyrinth gas seals. I - A two control volume model

The basic equations are derived for a two-control-volume model for compressible flow in a labyrinth seal. The recirculation velocity in the cavity is incorporated into the model for the first time. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent and isoenergetic. The wall friction factors are determined using the Blasius formula. Jet flow theory is used for the calculation of the recirculation velocity in the cavity. Linearized zeroth- and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order pressure distribution is found by satisfying the leakage equation while the circumferential velocity distribution is determined by satisfying the momentum equations. The first-order equations are solved by a separation of variable solution. Integration of the resultant pressure distribution along and around the seal defines the reaction force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients.

Scharrer, J. K.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Simulation of mixing in the quick quench region of a rich burn-quick quench mix-lean burn combustor

A computer program was developed to study the mixing process in the quick quench region of a rich burn-quick quench mix-lean burn combustor. The computer program developed was based on the density-weighted, ensemble-averaged conservation equations of mass, momentum (full compressible Navier-Stokes), total energy, and species, closed by a k-epsilon turbulence model with wall functions. The combustion process was modeled by a two-step global reaction mechanism, and NO(x) formation was modeled by the Zeldovich mechanism. The formulation employed in the computer program and the essence of the numerical method of solution are described. Some results obtained for nonreacting and reacting flows with different main-flow to dilution-jet momentum flux ratios are also presented.

Shih, Tom I.-P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Buckling behavior of long symmetrically laminated plates subjected to combined loadings

A parametric study is presented of the buckling behavior of infinitely long, symmetrically laminated anisotropic plates subjected to combined loadings. The loading conditions considered are axial tension and compression transverse tension and compression, and shear. Results obtained using a special-purpose analysis, well-suited for parametric studies, are presented for clamped and simply supported plates. Moreover, results are presented for some common laminate constructions, and generic buckling design charts are presented for a wide range of parameters. The generic design charts are presented in terms of useful nondimensional parameters, and the dependence of the nondimensional parameters on laminate fiber orientation, stacking sequence, and material properties is discussed. An important finding of the study is that the effects of anisotropy are much more pronounced in shear-loaded plates than in compression-loaded plates. In addition, the effects of anisotropy on plates subjected to combined loadings are generally manifested as a phase shift of self-similar buckling interaction curves. A practical application of this phase shift is that the buckling resistance of long plates can be improved by applying a shear loading with a specific orientation. In all cases considered in the study, the buckling coefficients of infinitely long plates are found to be independent of the bending stiffness ratio (D sub 11/D sub 22)(1/4).

Nemeth, Michael P.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Effect of Cyclic Thermo-Mechanical Loads on Fatigue Reliability in Polymer Matrix Composites

A methodology to compute probabilistic fatigue life of polymer matrix laminated composites has been developed and demonstrated. Matrix degradation effects caused by long term environmental exposure and mechanical/thermal cyclic loads are accounted for in the simulation process. A unified time-temperature-stress dependent multi-factor interaction relationship developed at NASA Lewis Research Center has been used to model the degradation/aging of material properties due to cyclic loads. The fast probability integration method is used to compute probabilistic distribution of response. Sensitivities of fatigue life reliability to uncertainties in the primitive random variables (e.g., constituent properties, fiber volume ratio, void volume ratio, ply thickness, etc.) computed and their significance in the reliability- based design for maximum life is discussed. The effect of variation in the thermal cyclic loads on the fatigue reliability for a (0/+/- 45/90)(sub s) graphite/epoxy laminate with a ply thickness of 0.127 mm, with respect to impending failure modes has been studied. The results show that, at low mechanical cyclic loads and low thermal cyclic amplitudes, fatigue life for 0.999 reliability is most sensitive to matrix compressive strength, matrix modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, and ply thickness. Whereas at high mechanical cyclic loads and high thermal cyclic amplitudes, fatigue life at 0.999 reliability is more sensitive to the shear strength of matrix, longitudinal fiber modulus, matrix modulus, and ply thickness.

Shah, A. R.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Probabilistic Simulation for Combined Cycle Fatigue in Composites

A methodology to compute probabilistic fatigue life of polymer matrix laminated composites has been developed and demonstrated. Matrix degradation effects caused by long term environmental exposure and mechanical/thermal cyclic loads are accounted for in the simulation process. A unified time-temperature-stress dependent multifactor interaction relationship developed at NASA Glenn Research Center has been used to model the degradation/aging of material properties due to cyclic loads. The fast probability integration method is used to compute probabilistic distribution of response. Sensitivities of fatigue life reliability to uncertainties in the primitive random variables (e.g., constituent properties, fiber volume ratio, void volume ratio, ply thickness, etc.) computed and their significance in the reliability-based design for maximum life is discussed. The effect of variation in the thermal cyclic loads on the fatigue reliability for a (0/+/- 45/90)s graphite/epoxy laminate with a ply thickness of 0.127 mm, with respect to impending failure modes has been studied. The results show that, at low mechanical cyclic loads and low thermal cyclic amplitudes, fatigue life for 0.999 reliability is most sensitive to matrix compressive strength, matrix modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, and ply thickness. Whereas at high mechanical cyclic loads and high thermal cyclic amplitudes, fatigue life at 0.999 reliability is more sensitive to the shear strength of matrix, longitudinal fiber modulus, matrix modulus, and ply thickness.

Chamis, Christos C.↗

DOE OSTI2017

Transition from gas-kinetic to minimal metal-type conductivity in a supercritical fluid of metal vapor

We have proposed a peculiar model of the plasma of dense metal vapors, containing atoms embedded into the electron jelly, as well as free (thermally ionized) electrons and ions. The main feature of the model is the presence of the electron jelly existing at any density of the atomic component. The number of electrons in the jelly increases under compression. The process of its formation can be called the “cold” ionization, or pressure ionization. The composition of the gas–plasma mixture, including the concentration of atoms and electrons in the jelly, as well as the concentration of free thermally ionized electrons and ions, has been calculated. The conductivity of dense vapors is determined by the sum of the conductivities of thermal electrons (which is calculated using the Frost formula) and jelly electrons (which is calculated by the Regel–Ioffe formula for the minimal metal-type conductivity). The concentration of thermal electrons decreases and the concentration of jelly electrons increases upon compression of the vapor. Accordingly, the conductivity varies from the conductivity of thermal electrons to the conductivity of jelly electrons, continuously passing through the minimum. The calculated values of the conductivity of supercritical metal vapors are in satisfactory agreement with experimental results.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2021

Cu- and Zn-doped alkali activated mortar – Properties and durability in (bio)chemically aggressive wastewater environments

Metakaolin-based alkali activated mortars (AAM) - with and without CuSO{sub 4}·5H{sub 2}O and ZnO addition (mass ratio M{sup n+}/solid binder 0.08% to 1.7%) - were casted and exposed within an extensive long-term field campaign over the period of 20 months to a sewer basin, strongly affected by biogenic acid corrosion. (Un-)exposed AAM were tested regarding their physicochemical and microstructural properties, bioreceptivity and overall durability. Metal addition led to a retarding effect during alkali-activation reaction, as well as to an increase in open porosity of up to 3.0% and corresponding lower compressive strength of up to 10.9%. Reduced microbial colonization and diversity were observed on AAM with Cu, while Zn addition led to increased biodiversity. We propose that the observed higher durability of Cu-doped AAM is due to antibacterial effects and associated reduction of biogenic acid production, superseding overall negative effects of metal-dosage on physical material properties. Observed lower durability of Zn-doped AAM was related to combined negative physicochemical and microbial effects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1984

Repair techniques for celion/LARC-160 graphite/polyimide composite structures

The large stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios of graphite composite in combination with the 600 F structural capability of the polyimide matrix can reduce the total structure/TPS weight of reusable space vehicles by 20-30 percent. It is inevitable that with planned usage of GR/PI structural components, damage will occur either in the form of intrinsic flaw growth or mechanical damage. Research and development programs were initiated to develop repair processes and techniques specific to Celion/LARC-160 GR/PI structure with emphasis on highly loaded and lightly loaded compression critical structures for factory type repair. Repair processes include cocure and secondary bonding techniques applied under vacuum plus positive autoclave pressure. Viable repair designs and processes are discussed for flat laminates, honeycomb sandwich panels, and hat-stiffened skin-stringer panels. The repair methodology was verified through structural element compression tests at room temperature and 315 C (600 F).

Jones, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Simulation of tail buffet using delta wing-vertical tail configuration

Computational simulation of the vertical tail buffet problem is accomplished using a delta wing-vertical tail configuration. Flow conditions are selected such that the wing primary-vortex cores experience vortex breakdown and the resulting flow interacts with the vertical tail. This multidisciplinary problem is solved successively using three sets of equations for the fluid flow, aeroelastic deflections and grid displacements. For the fluid dynamics part, the unsteady, compressible, full Navier-Stokes equations are solved accurately in time using an implicit, upwind, flux-difference splitting, finite-volume scheme. For the aeroelastic part, the aeroelastic equation for bending vibrations is solved accurately in time using the Galerkin method and the four-stage Runge-Kutta scheme. The grid for the fluid dynamics computations is updated every few time steps using a third set of interpolation equations. The computational application includes a delta wing of aspect ratio 1 and a rectangular vertical tail of aspect ratio 2, which is placed at 0.5 root-chord length downstream of the wing trailing edge. The wing angle of attack is 35 deg and the flow Mach number and Reynolds number are 0.4 and 10,000, respectively.

Kandil, Osama A.↗

NASA NTRS1944

Wall interference in a two-dimensional-flow wind tunnel, with consideration of the effect of compressibility

Theoretical tunnel-wall corrections are derived for an airfoil of finite thickness and camber in a two-dimensional-flow wind tunnel. The theory takes account of the effects of the wake of the airfoil and of the compressibility of the fluid, and is based upon the assumption that the chord of the airfoil is small in comparison with the height of the tunnel. Consideration is given to the phenomenon of choking at high speeds and its relation to the tunnel-wall corrections. The theoretical results are compared with the small amount of low-speed experimental data available and the agreement is seen to be satisfactory, even for relatively large values of the chord-height ratio.

Allen, H Julian↗

NASA NTRS2008

Self-Deploying Trusses Containing Shape-Memory Polymers

Composite truss structures are being developed that can be compacted for stowage and later deploy themselves to full size and shape. In the target applications, these smart structures will precisely self-deploy and support a large, lightweight space-based antenna. Self-deploying trusses offer a simple, light, and affordable alternative to articulated mechanisms or inflatable structures. The trusses may also be useful in such terrestrial applications as variable-geometry aircraft components or shelters that can be compacted, transported, and deployed quickly in hostile environments. The truss technology uses high-performance shape-memory-polymer (SMP) thermoset resin reinforced with fibers to form a helical composite structure. At normal operating temperatures, the truss material has the structural properties of a conventional composite. This enables truss designs with required torsion, bending, and compression stiffness. However, when heated to its designed glass transition temperature (Tg), the SMP matrix acquires the flexibility of an elastomer. In this state, the truss can be compressed telescopically to a configuration encompassing a fraction of its original volume. When cooled below Tg, the SMP reverts to a rigid state and holds the truss in the stowed configuration without external constraint. Heating the materials above Tg activates truss deployment as the composite material releases strain energy, driving the truss to its original memorized configuration without the need for further actuation. Laboratory prototype trusses have demonstrated repeatable self-deployment cycles following linear compaction exceeding an 11:1 ratio (see figure).

Schueler, Robert M.↗

NASA NTRS1947

Performance of the 19XB 10-Stage Axial-Flow Compressor with Altered Blade Angles

Previous performance data of the 19XB axial-flow compressor indicated that the outlet guide vanes and possibly the inlet guide vanes were stalling. Calculations were made to determine if these adverse conditions could be eliminated and if the manufacturer's design specifications could be more nearly approached by altering the blade angles of the first few compression stages as well as the outlet guide vanes. With the blade angles altered, experimental data were taken at compressor speeds of 8500 to 17,000 rpm with inlet-air conditions of 7.4 inches of mercury absolute and 59 0 F. The temperature-rise efficiency increased with speed from 0.70 at 8500 rpm to 0.74 at 13,600 rpm and dropped gradually to 0.70 at 17,000 rpm. At the design speed of 17,000 rpm, the pressure ratio at the peak efficiency point was 3.63. The maximum pressure ratio at design speed was 4.15 at an equivalent weight flow of 29.8 pounds per second. The altered compressor operated very .near the design specifications of pressure ratio and equivalent weight flow. At the high speeds, the peak adiabatic temperature-rise efficiency was increased 0.02 to 0,06 by altering the blade angles. The peak pressure ratio was increased 0.29 at design speed (17,000 rpm) and 0.05 and 0.13 at 11,900 and 13,600 rpm, respectively. The equivalent weight flow through the altered compressor was reduced 2 pounds per second at 15,300 and 17,000 rpm, as was expected from the design calculations. As extreme caution was taken not to surge the compressor violently, the point of minimum air flow may not have been reached in the present investigation and in a previous investigation. A true comparison of the pressure ratios obtained at the high speeds therefore cannot be made.

Downing, Richard M.↗

NASA NTRS2024

Direct Ink Write 3D Printing of Fully Dense and Functionally Graded Liquid Metal Elastomer Foams

Liquid metal (LM) elastomer composites offer promising potential in soft robotics, wearable electronics, and human-machine interfaces. Direct ink write (DIW) 3D printing offers a versatile manufacturing technique capable of precise control over LM microstructures, yet challenges such as interfilament void formation in multilayer structures impact material performance. Here, a DIW strategy is introduced to control both LM microstructure and material architecture. Investigating three key process parameters–nozzle height, extrusion rate, and nondimensionalized nozzle velocity–it is found that nozzle height and velocity predominantly influence filament geometry. The nozzle height primarily dictates the aspect ratio of the filament and the formation of voids. A threshold print height based on filament geometry is identified; below the height, significant surface roughness occurs, and above the ink fractures, which facilitates the creation of porous structures with tunable stiffness and programmable LM microstructure. These porous architectures exhibit reduced density and enhanced thermal conductivity compared to cast samples. When used as a dielectric in a soft capacitive sensor, they display high sensitivity (gauge factor = 9.0), as permittivity increases with compressive strain. These results demonstrate the capability to simultaneously manipulate LM microstructure and geometric architecture in LM elastomer composites through precise control of print parameters, while maintaining geometric fidelity in the printed design.

Spencer Pak↗

NASA NTRS1985

A theory of post-stall transients in multistage axial compression systems

A theory is presented for post stall transients in multistage axial compressors. The theory leads to a set of coupled first-order ordinary differential equations capable of describing the growth and possible decay of a rotating-stall cell during a compressor mass-flow transient. These changing flow features are shown to have a significant effect on the instantaneous compressor pumping characteristic during unsteady operation, and henace on the overall system behavior. It is also found from the theory that the ultimate mode of system response, stable rotating stall or surge, depends not only on the B parameter but also on other parameters, such as the compressor length-to-diameter ratio. Small values of this latter quantity tend to favor the occurrence of surge, as do large values of B. A limited parametric study is carried out to show the impact of the different system features on transient behavior. Based on analytical and numerical results, several specific topics are suggested for future research on post-stall transients.

Moore, F. K.↗