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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

Low loss dichroic plate

A low loss dichroic plate is disclosed for passing radiation within a particular frequency band and reflecting radiation outside of that frequency band. The dichroic plate is comprised of a configuration of dipole elements defined by slots formed in a conductive plate. The slots are dimensioned so as to pass radiation of a selected frequency and are shaped so as to minimize the relationship between that frequency and the tilt angle of the plate relative to the direction of radiation. The slots are arranged so as to minimize signal power loss due to cross polarization effects.

Woo, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Non-Uniform Bias Enhancement of a Varactor-Tuned FSS used with a Low Profile 2.4 GHz Dipole Antenna

In this paper a low profile antenna using a nonuniformly biased varactor-tuned frequency selective surface (FSS) is presented. The tunable FSS avoids the use of vias and has a simplified DC bias network. The voltages to the DC bias ports can be varied independently allowing adjustment in the frequency response and enhanced radiation properties. The measured data demonstrate tunability from 2.15 GHz to 2.63 GHz with peak efficiencies that range from 50% to 90% and instantaneous bandwidths of 50 MHz to 280 MHz within the tuning range. The total antenna thickness is approximately lambda/45.

Cure, David↗
NASA NTRS1999

Frequency-Weighting Filter Selection, for H2 Control of Microgravity Isolation Systems: A Consideration of the "Implicit Frequency Weighting" Problem

Many space-science experiments need an active isolation system to provide them with the requisite microgravity environment. The isolation systems planned for use with the International Space Station (ISS) have been appropriately modeled using relative position, relative velocity, and acceleration states. In theory, frequency-weighting design filters can be applied to these state-space models, in order to develop optimal H2 or mixed-norm controllers with desired stability and performance characteristics. In practice, however, since there is a kinematic relationship among the various states, any frequency weighting applied to one state will implicitly weight other states. These implicit frequency-weighting effects must be considered, for intelligent frequency-weighting filter assignment. This paper suggests a rational approach to the assignment of frequency-weighting design filters, in the presence of the kinematic coupling among states that exists in the microgravity vibration isolation problem.

Hampton, Roy David↗
NASA NTRS2000

Frequency-Weighting Filter Selection for H2 Control of Microgravity Isolation Systems: A Consideration of the "Implicit Frequency Weighting" Problem

Many space-science experiments need an active isolation system to provide them with the requisite microgravity environment. The isolation system planned for use with the International Space Station (ISS) have been appropriately modeled using relative position, relative velocity, and acceleration states. In theory, frequency-weighting design filters can be applied to them state-space models, In order to develop optimal H2 or mixed-norm controllers with desired stability and performance characteristics. In practice. however, since there Is a kinematic relationship among the various states. any frequency weighting applied to one state will implicitly weight other states. These implicit frequency-weighting effects must be considered, for intelligent frequency-weighting filter assignment. This paper suggests a rational approach to the assignment of frequency-weighting design filters, in the presence of the kinematic coupling among states that exists in the microgravity vibration isolation problem.

Hampton, R. David↗
NASA NTRS1995

Efficient finite element simulation of slot spirals, slot radomes and microwave structures

This progress report contains the following two documents: (1) 'Efficient Finite Element Simulation of Slot Antennas using Prismatic Elements' - A hybrid finite element-boundary integral (FE-BI) simulation technique is discussed to treat narrow slot antennas etched on a planar platform. Specifically, the prismatic elements are used to reduce the redundant sampling rates and ease the mesh generation process. Numerical results for an antenna slot and frequency selective surfaces are presented to demonstrate the validity and capability of the technique; and (2) 'Application and Design Guidelines of the PML Absorber for Finite Element Simulations of Microwave Packages' - The recently introduced perfectly matched layer (PML) uniaxial absorber for frequency domain finite element simulations has several advantages. In this paper we present the application of PML for microwave circuit simulations along with design guidelines to obtain a desired level of absorption. Different feeding techniques are also investigated for improved accuracy.

Gong, J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Experimental determination of sound and high-speed flow interaction

An experimental facility for measuring the attenuation of sound at various frequencies and modes in a finite duct with high-speed flow (with or without an axial pressure gradient) is described. The facility consists of an anechoic chamber transonic compressor with inlets of different area variations (or axial gradients); sound of selected frequencies and modes is produced with eight circumferential acoustic drivers. The experimental results indicate that high Mach number inlets can increase noise propagation. In addition, an inlet with a constant axial gradient is found to have a better acoustic and aerodynamic performance than inlets of the same area ratio with steep gradients near the throat or exit.

Lumsdaine, E.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Equivalent Plate Analysis of Aircraft Wing with Discrete Source Damage

An equivalent plate procedure is developed to provide a computationally efficient means of matching the stiffness and frequencies of flight vehicle wing structures for prescribed loading conditions. First, the equivalent plate is used to match the stiffness of a stiffened panel without damage and the stiffness of a stiffened panel with damage. For both stiffened panels, the equivalent plate models reproduce the deformation of a corresponding detailed model exactly for the given loading conditions. Once the stiffness was matched, the equivalent plate models were then used to predict the frequencies of the panels. Two analytical procedures using the lumped-mass matrix were used to match the first five frequencies of the corresponding detailed model. In both the procedures, the lumped-mass matrix for the equivalent plate is constructed by multiplying the diagonal terms of the consistent-mass matrix by a proportionality constant. In the first procedure, the proportionality constant is selected such that the total mass of the equivalent plate is equal to that of the detailed model. In the second method, the proportionality constant is selected to minimize the sum of the squares of the errors in a set of pre-selected frequencies between the equivalent plate model and the detailed model. The equivalent plate models reproduced the fundamental first frequency accurately in both the methods. It is observed that changing only the mass distribution in the equivalent plate model did not provide enough flexibility to match all of the frequencies.

Krishnamurthy, T.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Switched Band-Pass Filters for Adaptive Transceivers

Switched band-pass filters are key components of proposed adaptive, software- defined radio transceivers that would be parts of envisioned digital-data-communication networks that would enable real-time acquisition and monitoring of data from geographically distributed sensors. Examples of sensors to be connected to such networks include security cameras, radio-frequency identification units, and geolocation units based on the Global Positioning System. Through suitable software configuration and without changing hardware, these transceivers could be made to operate according to any of a number of complex wireless-communication standards that could be characterized by diverse modulation schemes, bandwidths, and data-handling protocols. The adaptive transceivers would include field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and digital signal-processing hardware. In the receiving path of a transceiver, the incoming signal would be amplified by a low-noise amplifier (LNA). The output spectrum of the LNA would be processed by a band-pass filter operating in the frequency range between 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz. Then a down-converter would translate the signal to a lower frequency range to facilitate analog-to-digital conversion, which would be followed by baseband processing by one or more FPGAs. In the transmitting path, a digital stream would first be converted to an analog signal, which would then be up-converted to a selected frequency band before being applied to a transmitting power amplifier. The aforementioned band-pass filter in the receiving path would be a combination of resonant inductor-and-capacitor filters and switched band-pass filters. The overall combination would implement a switch function designed mathematically to exhibit desired frequency responses and to switch the signal in each frequency band to an analog-to-digital converter appropriate for that band to produce a digital intermediate-frequency signal for digital signal processing.

Wang, Ray↗
NASA NTRS1973

Acoustic radiation from plates excited by flow noise.

Theoretical formulation of noise radiation from thin, rectangular, flexible plates excited by turbulent wall pressure fluctuations. An extensive parametric study including surface roughness and both plate and flow parameters is presented. From the results, presented graphically, it is possible to predict the spectrum of the total radiated power provided that the power spectral density of the wall-pressure fluctuations, the flow velocity, the plate dimensions and the plate modal damping parameters are known. Along with the parametric study, an estimate of the dependence of the noise radiation on plate boundary conditions based on a consideration of the wavenumber-frequency selectivity of the plate is presented. The parametric study is based on the assumption that the wave number/frequency spectrum of the wall-pressure fluctuations can be described by a Fourier transform of a Corcos model of the cross spectral density. The results indicate that at frequencies above the hydrodynamic-coincidence frequency the radiated power is dependent on the low-wave-number spectrum of the excitation. The dependence on the high-wave-number spectrum, however, is limited to a narrow band of frequencies below the hydrodynamic-coincidence frequency.

Aupperle, F. A.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Composite Reflective Absorptive IR-Blocking Filters Embedded in Metamaterial Antireflection Coated Silicon

Infrared (IR)-blocking filters are crucial for controlling the radiative loading on cryogenic systems and for optimizing the sensitivity of bolometric detectors in the far-IR. We present a new IR filter approach based on a combination of patterned frequency-selective structures on silicon and a thin (2575 micron thick) absorptive composite based on powdered reststrahlen absorbing materials. For a 300 K blackbody, this combination reflects approximately 50% of the incoming light and blocks greater than.99.8% of the total power with negligible thermal gradients and excellent low-frequency transmission. This allows a reduction in the IR thermal loading to negligible levels in a single cold filter. These composite filters are fabricated on silicon substrates, which provide excellent thermal transport laterally through the filter and ensure that the entire area of the absorptive filter stays near the bath temperature. A metamaterial antireflection coating cut into these substrates reduces in-band reflections to below 1%, and the in-band absorption of the powder mix is below 1% for signal bands below 750 GHz. This type of filter can be directly incorporated into silicon refractive optical elements.

Munson, C. D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Optical detector having a plurality of matrix layers with cobalt disilicide particles embedded therein

Silicon and metal are coevaporated onto a silicon substrate in a molecular beam epitaxy system with a larger than stoichiometric amount of silicon so as to epitaxially grow particles of metal silicide embedded in a matrix of single crystal epitaxially grown silicon. The particles interact with incident photons by resonant optical absorption at the surface plasmon resonance frequency. Controlling the substrate temperature and deposition rate and time allows the aspect ratio of the particles to be tailored to desired wavelength photons and polarizations. The plasmon energy may decay as excited charge carriers of phonons, either of which can be monitored to indicate the amount of incident radiation at the selected frequency and polarization.

Fathauer, Robert W.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Dynamic frequency tuning of electric and magnetic metamaterial response

A geometrically modifiable resonator is comprised of a resonator disposed on a substrate, and a means for geometrically modifying the resonator. The geometrically modifiable resonator can achieve active optical and/or electronic control of the frequency response in metamaterials and/or frequency selective surfaces, potentially with sub-picosecond response times. Additionally, the methods taught here can be applied to discrete geometrically modifiable circuit components such as inductors and capacitors. Principally, controlled conductivity regions, using either reversible photodoping or voltage induced depletion activation, are used to modify the geometries of circuit components, thus allowing frequency tuning of resonators without otherwise affecting the bulk substrate electrical properties. The concept is valid over any frequency range in which metamaterials are designed to operate.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ground truth for oceanic rainfall

Communications systems operating at frequencies in excess of 10 GHz are degraded significantly by rainfall. To provide the information needed for design of these millimeter wave systems, rain attentuation models were developed and data bases of propagation related information were accumulated. These data bases were developed based on the signal level measurements of geostationary satellite beacons at selected frequencies. Groundbased radar reflection measurements were able to develop data bases for system design. The rain attenuation models allow accurate correlation between the rain rate and the attenuation.

Dorman, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Radar backscattering from snow facies of the Greenland ice sheet: Results from the AIRSAR 1991 campaign

In June 1991, the NASA/JPL airborne SAR (AIRSAR) acquired C- (lambda = 5.6cm), L- (lambda = 24cm), and P- (lambda = 68m) band polarimetric SAR data over the Greenland ice sheet. These data are processed using version 3.55 of the AIRSAR processor which provides radiometrically and polarimetrically calibrated images. The internal calibration of the AIRSAR data is cross-checked using the radar response from corner reflectors deployed prior to flight in one of the scenes. In addition, a quantitative assessment of the noise power level at various frequencies and polarizations is made in all the scenes. Synoptic SAR data corresponding to a swath width of about 12 by 50 km in length (compared to the standard 12 x 12 km size of high-resolution scenes) are also processed and calibrated to study transitions in radar backscatter as a function of snow facies at selected frequencies and polarizations. The snow facies on the Greenland ice sheet are traditionally categorized based on differences in melting regime during the summer months. The interior of Greenland corresponds to the dry snow zone where terrain elevation is the highest and no snow melt occurs. The lowest elevation boundary of the dry snow zone is known traditionally as the dry snow line. Beneath it is the percolation zone where melting occurs in the summer and water percolates through the snow freezing at depth to form massive ice lenses and ice pipes. At the downslope margin of this zone is the wet snow line. Below it, the wet snow zone corresponds to the lowest elevations where snow remains at the end of the summer. Ablation produces enough meltwater to create areas of snow saturated with water, together with ponds and lakes. The lowest altitude zone of ablation sees enough summer melt to remove all traces of seasonal snow accumulation, such that the surface comprises bare glacier ice.

Rignot, Eric↗
NASA NTRS1993

Dichroic Design for the Orbiting VLBI Earth Station Antenna

In this paper the design and performance of a single screen frequency selective surface with gridded square loop patch elements are described for diplexing the X-and Ku-band signals in an Orbiting Very Long Baseline Interferometer (OVLBI) earth station reflector antenna system.

gridded square element resonant frequency drift Or↗
DOE OSTI2024

Electron Density Measurements Using USPR (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

UC Davis has fabricated an ultrashort pulse reflectometer (USPR) diagnostic instrument for electron density profile measurements on compact, short duration, magnetically-confined fusion-energy concept devices such as spheromaks and FRCs. The USPR system transmits extremely short duration (~few nsec) chirped waveforms that together span 29 to 75 GHz. These chirped waveforms illuminate and reflect from the target plasma, with each frequency component reflecting from a different density layer (higher frequencies probe deeper into the plasma before reflecting). The reflected waveforms are split into roughly 42 different frequencies; time-of-flight (TOF) measurements made at each frequency with high resolution (~25 psec measurement resolution which corresponds to ~5 mm). These TOF data may then be inverted via software to generate electron density profiles with high time resolution (~10 μsec). At the heart of the system is a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based controller which collects and processes all of the USPR data in addition to generating all of the control signals required for maximum flexibility. The FPGA controller has the software flexibility to be easily reconfigured for different plasma devices, and the entire system sufficiently compact to be easily and quickly transported between devices. A high speed impulse generator was transformed into a set of three ultrashort pulse transmitter chirps using a combination of dispersive waveguide, frequency doublers and high-pass filters. A mm-wave controller was fabricated to sequentially switch between the three chirps, directing the chirps one-by-one to three different mm-wave assemblies spanning 29-75 GHz. Each mm-wave assembly consists of a high power active multiplier chain which converts the transmitter chirp to higher frequencies, and a broadband mixer which downconverts the reflected waveform to the 2-18 GHz range of the UPSR receiver. The 16-channel receiver (shared by all 3 mm-wave assemblies) was fabricated employing custom TOF modules capable of operating at a high 1 MHz sampling rate. Laboratory testing of the full system revealed the presence of unwanted harmonics from the multiplication process, with interference observed in the downconverted reflections at selected frequency channels that could not be completely filtered out. Additional interference effects arising from internal reflections within the mm-wave assemblies were minimized using a high-speed switch which served to “gate out” much of these reflections. The USPR diagnostic was transported and installed onto the HIT-SIU plasma device, becoming operational on 11/08/2022. Although designed to span 3 distinct mm-wave bands, the HIT-SIU plasmas at this time were sufficiently low density such that only the lowest of the three bands was likely to have strong plasma reflections. The system was then set to operate on only the lowest band (assembly #1), with data collected every 1 μsec rather than 3 μsec which would have been the case when cycling through all three bands. Connected to HIT-SIU, time-varying plasma reflections were observed on 9 of 16 possible frequency channels. Close examination of the data collected revealed issues previously unobserved in laboratory testing, associated with (a) reflections from the small aperture horns required for operation within the HIT-SIU device, and (b) a dependence of the recorded TOF with the threshold voltage of a given channel. Plans were made to address each of these issues before undertaking any future campaigns.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Tropical Tropospheric Ozone Trends (1990 to 2022): A Re-evaluation Based on SHADOZ and IAGOS Profiles and TOMS/OMI Columns

Changes in tropical tropospheric ozone (TTO) are of importance because this region spans roughly a third of the Earth and portions of it are experiencing variability in trends of ozone precursors (CO, NO x , CH 4 and nonmethane hydrocarbons) associated with economic growth and fires. In addition to ozone changes affecting radiative forcing, tropical ozone is an important source of the OH radical and thus, the oxidizing capacity of the planet (Thompson, 1992). Recent studies examining TTO trends satellite and in-situ observations over the past ~25 years include: Thompson et al., JGR, 2021; Gaudel et al., ACP, 2023; Stauffer et al., ACP, 2023. The results show considerable regional and seasonal variability in TTO trends and sensitivity to data selection, frequency, and statistical method used. The satellite data vary most widely in method, time period and reliability. Here we revisit trends for the 1990-2022 period with the best-characterized buv-based satellite products that span that period (derived from TOMS and OMI, Ziemke et al., 2019). The satellite-based trends are compared to trends based on in-situ data from the Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozonesondes (SHADOZ) network (1998-2022), measurements from selected pre-SHADOZ and IAGOS commercial aircraft data (Gaudel et al., 2023). Among sensitivities examined are the dependence of ozone trends on start and end years, impacts of ENSO events and the COVID-19 perturbation to emissions. Two statistical methods are used, quantile regression (QR) and multiple linear regression (MLR). Trends of total TTO, ozone segments in the boundary layer (to ~700 hPa), and free troposphere (700-300 hPa) are compared.

ozone, OMI, tropospheric ozone, SHADOZ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Feasibility of Lead Fast Reactor Heat Exchanger Tube Online Monitoring

Within virtually all reactor systems with heat exchangers, the thinnest barriers between primary and secondary fluids are the heat exchanger tubes. Consistent with light water reactor experience, the advanced reactor heat exchangers are the most susceptible regions for corrosion and leakage (NRC, 2019). Moreover, traditional inspections and repairs using robotics will be expensive or impractical. On-line structural health corrosion monitoring (OLSHM) is therefore desirable to detect tube degradation prior to leaks that may allow mixing of heat exchanger fluids. Rhetorically many molten salt reactor (MSR) designers plan for on-line monitoring of critical reactor components including heat exchangers but there are no proven OLSHM sensors or systems for MSR heat exchangers. Guided wave ultrasound from the tube-end or ID using conventional low-temperature piezoelectric sensors has been shown to be sensitive to pits and cracks less than 50% through-wall in long pipes and tubes (Narayanan M.M., 2019) . Mode and frequency selection are important for practical sensor design decisions and ultimate performance. The L-0 wave-mode is easily excited by L-mode transducers but they have surface normal wave motion that will be sensitive to and more attenuative because of fluid interaction with the tube surface (Rose J.L., 1994). Shear Horizontal (SH) wave modes have material motion parallel to the tube surface therefore are virtually unaffected by fluid interaction. For SH-0 to be nondispersive in steel, the frequency-thickness product (MHz-mm) must be less than approximately 1.5. SH mode transducers must be coupled by a material that can support shear stress; a thin layer of honey works well for temporary sensors and an adhesive or a brazed metallurgical bond for permanent sensors. If sensors are incorporated into the fabrication process, the same kinds of SH-0 waves can be generated from the stagnant flow area of the tube OD without compromising the heat-exchange tube function. Piezoelectric materials are also available that can withstand harsh temperatures of molten salt heat exchangers (Stevenson T., 2015) (Machura et al., 2008). Though they may not have as high-performance characteristics, their performance only needs to be good enough to detect flaws of interest. This project attempts to demonstrate feasibility to develop a sensor that can be sensitive to flaws of interest and perform long-term monitoring of a molten salt reactor heat exchanger. Benefits to the advanced reactor system include: • Minimizing the expense of a reactor shut down for periodic inspection—only shutdown for cause. • Reduce risk of unexpected tube rupture by detecting flaws before they grow to through-wall leaks. • Cost reduction by minimizing need to design for manual/robotic inspectability. Transducer design, characterization of the beam profile, wedges vs. direct application of piezoelectric sensors, and ultrasonic pulse-echo responses from a representative heat exchange tube with fabricated flaw types are discussed.

On-Line Tube Monitor, Guided Wave Ultrasound, SH-0↗