Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “UPS”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Radiative transfer in cirrus clouds from airborne flux and microphysical measurements during FIRE 86

Microphysical and radiation measurements from three case studies during FIRE 86 are presented and analyzed. Calculated solar and infrared flux profiles are compared to measured flux values for the studies. The flux comparison shows that the modeled cirrus cloud underestimates cloud extinction, especially near the cloud base, where modeled extinctions are largest. The large downward solar attenuation near the cloud base cannot be matched, while the modeled solar reflection is too small. Most of this difference is attributed to an underestimation of cloud optical depth in the model. Modeling difficulties and difficulties in the measurements are discussed. It is proposed that, in order to assure a more useful flux comparison, field experiment set-ups and instrumentation as well as the modeling of cirrus clouds need to be improved.

Kinne, S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Thermal imaging of graphite/epoxy composite samples with fabricated defects

Consideration is given to a thermal inspection system for quickly inspecting large area composites for increased reliability and maintainability of helicopters resulting from improved quality assurance manufacturing. The infrared camera/image processor-based inspection system was used to image defects in composites. Noncontacting and single-sided measurements were performed on graphite/epoxy samples with fiber volume fraction variations, fabricated porosity, impact damage, and inclusions in incurred lay ups. These defects were imaged by determining the variations in the cooling rates caused by differences in through ply thermal diffusivity. Attention is also given to the system's sensitivity to measuring the defects due to sample thickness.

Zalameda, Joseph N.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Guided waves in a multilayered composite and ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation

Analysis of wave propagation in a laminated composite plate with many layers is made difficult by the anisotropy of the laminae, different lay-ups, many layers and defects in the fabricated plate. A good understanding of the wave field in such a plate without defects is a prerequisite for use of ultrasonic techniques to evaluate the various defects that can substantially reduce the strength and service life of this structure. Results of modeling studies of wave propagation and scattering in a multilayered composite plate are presented. The analysis technique combines the finite element discretization through the thickness with wave form representation along the plate in order to calculate the dispersive modes of propagation in the plate. To study scattering of these waves by a matrix crack that grows into delaminations, a hybrid finite element representation of the field near the crack and the modal representation of the scattered exterior field are used. Results are presented showing the dependence of the reflection and transmission coefficients on the size of the crack with delamination which can be used to size the defect using ultrasonic techniques.

Datta, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

An experimental investigation of boundary layer transition in an adverse pressure gradient

The evolution of a small perturbation introduced periodically into a boundary layer with a moderately strong adverse pressure gradient (APG) was investigated experimentally using the hot-wire method. The magnitude of the disturbance is found to decay with the streamwise distance in the APG before undergoing rapid growth and triggering transition in a very repetitive manner. The evidence suggests that the laminar layer separates and that the transition mechanism is an inviscid shear-layer type of instability. Contours of spanwise vorticity in the plane of the disturbance show the formation of roll-ups in the initial stages. Subsequent interaction with the wall leads to the formation of large-scale vortex loops which merge into a single vortex loop further downstream.

Watmuff, Jonathan H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

An overview of the Spacelab program

A detailed review is presented of Spacelab experiments, equipment, methodologies, and aims emphasizing the 16 dedicated missions for Space Shuttle flights. Extensive illustrations of experimental set-ups and payload configurations are given showing the Space Shuttle payload bay. Among the experiments described are: (1) the Astro-1 UV and X-ray astronomy mission; (2) the Spacelab Life Science-1 mission for human activity in space; (3) the International Microgravity Laboratory-1 for materials and biological studies; (4) the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science to study solar effects on the earth; and (5) the Space Radar Laboratory for mapping the earth. Spacelab ground support is discussed and shown to be important for the planning, integration, and flight activities of the experiment programs.

Benson, Robert H.↗
NASA NTRS1992

TOPEX/Poseidon orbit acquisition maneuver design

The current baseline injection orbit for the jointly sponsored NASA/CNES TOPEX/Poseidon mission is near-circular, approximately 30 km below the desired operational orbit altitude and at the operational orbit inclination. A baseline maneuver sequence to retarget from this injection orbit to the desired operational orbit has been designed based upon the expected worst-case 3-sigma injection and maneuver execution errors. The sequence requires seven maneuvers, including an initial calibration burn, and achieves the operational orbit with the desired ground track pattern in 30 days. A delay sensitivity analysis has been conducted to estimate the allowable operational delay for each maneuver without increasing the total orbit acquisition period. The baseline sequence provides back-ups for a one-revolution delay for each maneuver and one-day delay for most maneuvers. It is also shown that a higher injection orbit allows the maneuver sequence to achieve the operational orbit in 26 days under a worst-case scenario.

Bhat, Ramachandra S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Residual thermal and moisture influences on the analysis of local delaminations

An analysis using laminated plate theory is developed to calculate the strain energy release rate associated with local delaminations originating at off-axis, angle-ply, matrix cracks in laminates subjected to uniaxial loads. The analysis includes the contribution of residual thermal and moisture stresses to the strain energy released. Examples are calculated for the strain energy release rate associated with local delaminations originating at 90 deg and angle-ply(non 90 deg) matrix-ply cracks in glass-epoxy and graphite-epoxy laminates. The solution developed may be used to assess the relative contribution of mechanical, residual thermal, and moisture stresses on the strain energy release rate for local delamination for a variety of lay-ups and materials.

O'Brien, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Effect of damage on elastically tailored composite laminates

A variationally consistent theory is derived in order to predict the response of anisotropic thin-walled closed sections subjected to axial load, torsion and bending. The theory is valid for arbitrary cross-sections made of laminated composite materials with variable thickness and stiffness. Closed form expressions for the stiffness coefficients are provided as integrals in terms of lay-ups parameters and cross-sectional geometry. A comparison of stiffness coefficients and response with finite element predictions and a closed form solution is performed. The theory is applied to the investigation of the effect of damage on the extension-twist coupling in a thin-walled closed section beam. The damage is simulated as a progressive ply-by-ply failure. Results show that damage can have a significant effect on the extension-twist coupling.

Armanios, Erian↗
NASA NTRS1992

A three-dimensional upwind PNS code for chemically reacting scramjet flowfields

A new upwind, parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code has been developed to compute the three-dimensional (3D) chemically reacting flow in scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) engines. The code is a modification of the 3D upwind PNS (UPS) airflow code which has been extended in the present study to permit internal flow calculations with hydrogen-air chemistry. With these additions, the new code has the capability of computing aerodynamic and propulsive flowfields simultaneously. The algorithm solves the PNS equations using a finite-volume, upwind TVD method based on Roe's approximate Riemann solver that has been modified to account for 'real gas' effects. The fluid medium is assumed to be a chemically reacting mixture of thermally perfect (but calorically imperfect) gases in thermal equilibrium. The new code has been applied to two test cases. These include the Burrows-Kurkov supersonic combustion experiment and a generic 3D scramjet flowfield. The computed results compare favorably with the available experimental data.

Wadawadigi, Ganesh↗
NASA NTRS1992

Scalable parallel communications

Coarse-grain parallelism in networking (that is, the use of multiple protocol processors running replicated software sending over several physical channels) can be used to provide gigabit communications for a single application. Since parallel network performance is highly dependent on real issues such as hardware properties (e.g., memory speeds and cache hit rates), operating system overhead (e.g., interrupt handling), and protocol performance (e.g., effect of timeouts), we have performed detailed simulations studies of both a bus-based multiprocessor workstation node (based on the Sun Galaxy MP multiprocessor) and a distributed-memory parallel computer node (based on the Touchstone DELTA) to evaluate the behavior of coarse-grain parallelism. Our results indicate: (1) coarse-grain parallelism can deliver multiple 100 Mbps with currently available hardware platforms and existing networking protocols (such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and parallel Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) rings); (2) scale-up is near linear in n, the number of protocol processors, and channels (for small n and up to a few hundred Mbps); and (3) since these results are based on existing hardware without specialized devices (except perhaps for some simple modifications of the FDDI boards), this is a low cost solution to providing multiple 100 Mbps on current machines. In addition, from both the performance analysis and the properties of these architectures, we conclude: (1) multiple processors providing identical services and the use of space division multiplexing for the physical channels can provide better reliability than monolithic approaches (it also provides graceful degradation and low-cost load balancing); (2) coarse-grain parallelism supports running several transport protocols in parallel to provide different types of service (for example, one TCP handles small messages for many users, other TCP's running in parallel provide high bandwidth service to a single application); and (3) coarse grain parallelism will be able to incorporate many future improvements from related work (e.g., reduced data movement, fast TCP, fine-grain parallelism) also with near linear speed-ups.

Maly, K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Parabolized Navier-Stokes methods for hypersonic flows

The development and numerical solution of the Parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) equations is discussed. Special emphasis is placed on numerical integration algorithms for PNS solvers, most notably recent applications of upwind schemes. Application of this technology to high speed, high Reynolds number flows was the focus, and modeling techniques for real gas effects and turbulence were discussed. Experiences in validating the UPS upwind PNS flow solver for relatively simple body shapes are presented. The test cases range in complexity from two dimensional perfect gas cases to three dimensional finite rate chemistry cases.

Lawrence, S. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Contact dynamics testing of automated three point docking mechanism

TRW has conducted an extensive Contact Dynamics Test Program (CDTP) of the Three Point Docking Mechanism (TPDM). The CDTP tested the ability of the TPDM latches to capture and automatically dock to target spacecraft. The target selected was the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Mock ups of the TPDM with its three latches and the docking interface of the HST were constructed at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama for use in the tests. The tests were performed at the Flat Floor and Six Degree of Freedom (6-DOF) facilities at MSFC.

Spitzer, Christopher J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Advanced underwater lift device

Flexible underwater lift devices ('lift bags') are used in underwater operations to provide buoyancy to submerged objects. Commercially available designs are heavy, bulky, and awkward to handle, and thus are limited in size and useful lifting capacity. An underwater lift device having less than 20 percent of the bulk and less than 10 percent of the weight of commercially available models was developed. The design features a dual membrane envelope, a nearly homogeneous envelope membrane stress distribution, and a minimum surface-to-volume ratio. A proof-of-concept model of 50 kg capacity was built and tested. Originally designed to provide buoyancy to mock-ups submerged in NASA's weightlessness simulators, the device may have application to water-landed spacecraft which must deploy flotation upon impact, and where launch weight and volume penalties are significant. The device may also be useful for the automated recovery of ocean floor probes or in marine salvage applications.

Flanagan, David T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Stress distribution in composite flatwise tension test specimens

A finite element analysis was conducted to determine the stress distribution in typical graphite/epoxy composite flat wise tension (FWT) specimens under normal loading conditions. The purpose of the analysis was to determine the relationship between the applied load and the stress in the sample to evaluate the validity of the test as a means of measuring the out-of-plane strength of a composite laminate. Three different test geometries and three different material lay ups were modeled. In all cases, the out-of-plane component of stress in the test section was found to be uniform, with no stress concentrations, and very close to the nominal applied stress. The stress in the sample was found to be three-dimensional, and the magnitude of in-plane normal and shear stresses varied with the anisotropy of the test specimen. However, in the cases considered here, these components of stress were much smaller than the out-of-plane normal stress. The geometry of the test specimen had little influence on the results. It was concluded that the flat wise tension test provides a good measure of the out-of-plane strength for the representative materials that were studied.

Scott, Curtis A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Advanced transportation system studies. Alternate propulsion subsystem concepts: Propulsion database

The Advanced Transportation System Studies alternate propulsion subsystem concepts propulsion database interim report is presented. The objective of the database development task is to produce a propulsion database which is easy to use and modify while also being comprehensive in the level of detail available. The database is to be available on the Macintosh computer system. The task is to extend across all three years of the contract. Consequently, a significant fraction of the effort in this first year of the task was devoted to the development of the database structure to ensure a robust base for the following years' efforts. Nonetheless, significant point design propulsion system descriptions and parametric models were also produced. Each of the two propulsion databases, parametric propulsion database and propulsion system database, are described. The descriptions include a user's guide to each code, write-ups for models used, and sample output. The parametric database has models for LOX/H2 and LOX/RP liquid engines, solid rocket boosters using three different propellants, a hybrid rocket booster, and a NERVA derived nuclear thermal rocket engine.

Levack, Daniel↗
NASA NTRS1992

Prediction of matrix fatigue crack initiation in notched SCS-6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composites

Several lay-ups of SCS-6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composites were tested in either a center hole or a double edge notched geometry. At different cyclic stress levels, the number of cycles required to develop matrix fatigue cracks at the notches was recorded. A fatigue strat-life curve was developed for the Ti-15-3 matrix material. This modified parameter predicted the number of cycles required for matrix crack initiation at the notches. The predictions were in good agreement with the experimental data.

Hillberry, Benjamin M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Fatigue of continuous fiber reinforced titanium matrix composites

Several lay-ups of SCS-6/Ti-15-3 composites were investigated. Static and fatigue tests were conducted for both notched and unnotched specimens at room and elevated temperatures. Test results indicated that the stress in the 0 fibers is the controlling factor in fatigue life. The static and fatigue strength of these materials is shown to be dependent on the level of residual stresses and the fiber/ matrix interfacial strength. Fatigue tests of notched specimens showed that cracks can initiate and grow many fiber spacings in the matrix material without breaking fibers. These matrix cracks can significantly reduce the residual strength of notched composite.

Johnson, W. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Some observations on Chinese education

China has encountered many ups and downs in the field of education over the years. Although hampered by financial and personnel problems, impressive progress has been made in primary education since 1949, particularly in urban areas. The total education system is still weak, however, with a serious shortage of qualified teachers, school buildings, and other necessary facilities. Some of the problems involved are discussed. Current efforts aimed at increasing the level of compulsory education are outlined and observations are made on the status and plans relative to basic education, technical and vocational education, teacher training, resource requirements, enrollment trends, and so on.

Spearman, M. L.↗