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At least 163 records · Page 9

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NASA NTRS1975

Dynamic SEM wear studies of tungsten carbide cermets

Dynamic friction and wear experiments were conducted in a scanning electron microscope. The wear behavior of pure tungsten carbide and composite with 6 and 15 weight percent cobalt binder was examined. Etching of the binder was done to selectively determine the role of the binder in the wear process. Dynamic experiments were conducted as the WC and bonded WC cermet surfaces were transversed by a 50 micron radiused diamond stylus. These studies show that the predominant wear process in WC is fracture initiated by plastic deformation. The wear of the etched cermets is similar to pure WC. The presence of the cobalt binder reduces both friction and wear. The cementing action of the cobalt reduces granular separation and promotes a dense polished layer because of its low shear strength film-forming properties. The wear debris generated from unetched surface is approximately the same composition as the bulk.

Brainard, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Auger spectroscopy analysis in adhesion, friction and wear studies

The paper reviews the current use of Auger electron spectroscopy in adhesion, friction, wear and lubrication studies. Conventional Auger spectroscopy is adopted to complement LEED studies of the adhesion of metal single crystals. In addition, Auger cylindrical mirror analysis is applied to the study of changes in surface chemistry during dynamic friction and wear experiments on polycrystalline metals and alloys. Important conclusions are that (1) segregation of alloying elements to the surface of metals can alter adhesion behavior; (2) hydrocarbons are adsorbed readily to clean iron surfaces at 23 C; (3) transfer from one surface to another for dissimilar materials in contact can be followed in sliding or rubbing friction studies; and (4) the friction process can enhance surface activity for metals with hydrocarbons.

Buckley, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Friction and Wear of Iron in Corrosive Media

Friction and wear experiments were conducted with elemental iron exposed to various corrosive media including two acids, base, and a salt. Studies involved various concentrations of nitric and sulfuric acids, sodium hydroxide, and sodium chloride. Load and reciprocating sliding speed were kept constant. With the base NaOH an increase in normality beyond 0.01 N resulted in a decrease in both friction and wear. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the surface showed a decreasing concentration of ferric oxide (Fe2O3) on the iron surface with increasing NaOH concentration. With nitric acid (HNO3) friction decreased in solutions to 0.05 N, beyond which no further change in friction was observed. The concentration of Fe2O3 on the surface continued to increase with increasing normality. XPS analysis revealed the presence of sulfates in addition of Fe2O3 on surfaces exposed to sulfuric acid and iron chlorides but no sodium on surfaces exposed to NaCl.

Rengstorff, G. W. P.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Dynamic SEM wear studies of tungsten carbide cermets

Dynamic friction and wear experiments were conducted in a scanning electron microscope. The wear behavior of pure tungsten carbide and composite with 6 and 15 weight percent cobalt binder was examined, and etching of the binder was done to selectively determine the role of the binder in the wear process. Dynamic experiments were conducted as the tungsten carbide (WC) and bonded WC cermet surfaces were transversed by a 50 micron radiused diamond stylus. These studies show that the predominant wear process in WC is fracture initiated by plastic deformation, and the wear of the etched cermets is similar to pure WC. The presence of the cobalt binder reduces both friction and wear. The cementing action of the cobalt reduces granular separation, and promotes a dense polished layer because of its low shear strength film-forming properties. The wear debris generated from unetched surface is approximately the same composition as the bulk.

Brainard, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Effect of nitrogen-containing plasma on adherence, friction, and wear of radiofrequency-sputtered titanium carbide coatings

Friction and wear experiments on 440C steel surfaces that were rf sputtered with titanium carbide when a small percentage of nitrogen was added to the plasma were conducted. Both X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the resultant coatings. Results indicate that the small partial pressure of nitrogen (approximately 0.5 percent) markedly improves the adherence, friction, and wear properties when compared with coatings applied to sputter-etched surfaces, oxidized surfaces, or in the presence of a small oxygen partial pressure. The improvements are related to the formation of an interface containing a mixture of the nitrides of titanium and iron, which are harder than their corresponding oxides.

Brainard, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Use of a nitrogen-argon plasma to improve adherence of sputtered titanium carbide coatings on steel

Friction and wear experiments on 440-C steel surfaces that had been RF-sputtered with titanium carbide when a small percentage of nitrogen was added to the plasma were conducted. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the resultant coatings. Results indicate that a small partial pressure of nitrogen (about 0.5%) markedly improves the adherence, friction, and wear properties when compared with coatings applied on sputter-etched oxidized surfaces or in the presence of a small oxygen partial pressure. The improvements are related to the formation of an interface containing a mixture of the nitrides of titanium and iron, which are harder than their corresponding oxides.

Brainard, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Interaction of sulfuric acid corrosion and mechanical wear of iron

Friction and wear experiments were conducted with elemental iron sliding on aluminum oxide in aerated sulfuric acid at concentrations ranging from very dilute (0.00007 N; i.e., 4 ppm) to very concentrated (96 percent acid). Load and reciprocating sliding speed were kept constant. With the most dilute acid concentration of 0.00007 to 0.0002 N, a complex corrosion product formed that was friable and often increased friction and wear. At slightly higher concentrations of 0.001 N, metal losses were essentially by wear alone. Because no buildup of corrosion products occurred, this acid concentration became the standard from which to separate metal loss from direct corrosion and mechanical wear losses. When the acid concentration was increased to 5 percent (1 N), the well-established high corrosion rate of iron in sulfuric acid strongly dominated the total wear loss. This strong corrosion increased to 30 percent acid and decreased somewhat to 50 percent acid in accordance with expectations. However, the low corrosion of iron expected at acid concentrations of 65 to 96 percent was not observed in the wear area. It was apparent that the normal passivating film was being worn away and a galvanic cell established that rapidly attacked the wear area. Under the conditions where direct corrosion losses were highest, the coefficient of friction was the lowest.

Rengstorff, G. W. P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Interaction of sulfuric acid corrosion and mechanical wear of iron

Friction and wear experiment were conducted with elemental iron sliding on aluminum oxide in aerated sulfuric acid at concentrations ranging from very dilute (0.00007 N; i.e., 4 ppm) to very concentrated (96 percent acid). Load and reciprocating sliding speed were kept constant. With the most dilute acid concentration of 0.00007 to 0.0002 N, a complex corrosion product formed that was friable and often increased friction and wear. At slightly higher concentrations of 0.001 N, metal losses were essentially by wear alone. Because no buildup of corrosion products occurred, this acid concentration became the standard from which to separate metal loss from direct corrosion and mechanical wear losses. When the acid concentration was increased to 5 percent (1 N), the well-established high corrosion rate of iron in sulfuric acid strongly dominated the total wear loss. This strong corrosion increased to 30 percent acid and decreased somewhat to 50 percent acid in accordance with expectations. However, the low corrosion of iron expected at acid concentrations of 65 to 96 percent was not observed in the wear area. It was apparent that the normal passivating film was being worn away and a galvanic cell established that rapidly attacked the wear area. Under the conditions where direct corrosion losses were highest, the coefficient of friction was the lowest.

Rengstorff, G. W. P.↗

NASA NTRS1959

Skin-Friction Measurements in Incompressible Flow

Experiments have been conducted to measure the local surface-shear stress and the average skin-friction coefficient in Incompressible flow for a turbulent boundary layer on a smooth flat plate having zero pressure gradient. Data were obtained for a range of Reynolds numbers from 1 million to 45 million. The local surface-shear stress was measured by a floating-element skin-friction balance and also by a calibrated total head tube located on the surface of the test wall. The average skin-friction coefficient was obtained from boundary-layer velocity profiles.

Smith, Donald W.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Dynamic-scanning-electron-microscope study of friction and wear

A friction and wear apparatus was built into a real time scanning electron microscope (SEM). The apparatus and SEM comprise a system which provides the capability of performing dynamic friction and wear experiments in situ. When the system is used in conjunction with dispersive X-ray analysis, a wide range of information on the wearing process can be obtained. The type of wear and variation with speed, load, and time can be investigated. The source, size, and distribution of wear particles can be determined and metallic transferal observed. Some typical results obtained with aluminum, copper, and iron specimens are given.

Brainard, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1975

In-flight friction and wear mechanism

A unique mechanism developed for conducting friction and wear experiments in orbit is described. The device is capable of testing twelve material samples simultaneously. Parameters considered critical include: power, weight, volume, mounting, cleanliness, and thermal designs. The device performed flawlessly in orbit over an eighteen month period and demonstrated the usefulness of this design for future unmanned spacecraft or shuttle applications.

Devine, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Effect of ion-plated films of germanium and silicon on friction, wear, and oxidation of 52100 bearing steel

Friction and wear experiments were conducted with ion plated films of germanium and silicon on the surface of 52100 bearing steel both dry and in the presence of mineral oil. Both silicon and germanium were found to reduce wear, with germanium being more effective than silicon. An optimum film thickness of germanium for minimum wear without surface crack formation was found to be approximately 400 nanometers (4000 A). The presence of silicon and germanium on the 52100 bearing steel surface improved resistance to oxidation.

Buckley, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A comparison of experimental and computational results for 5 and 10 degree cones at high Mach numbers

Experiments were performed on 5 and 10 deg slender cones at a velocity of approximately 5 km/sec in the NASA-Ames ballistic ranges. The flowfields for the cones were computed using ideal-gas and chemical nonequilibrium-air parabolized Navier-Stokes codes. Experimentally determined drag coefficients and shock shapes are compared with the results of the computer codes. Both the flight-data analysis methods and the computational codes are examined to achieve the most meaningful comparison. Under the conditions of the experiments, skin-friction drag makes up approximately 50 percent of the total drag for the 5 deg cone and 30 percent of the total drag for the 10 deg cone. Computed drag coefficients of the 10 deg cone agree well with the experimental values; predictions fall below the experimental values for the 5 deg cone.

Strawa, A. W.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Thrust Stand for Vertically Oriented Electric Propulsion Performance Evaluation

A variation of a hanging pendulum thrust stand capable of measuring the performance of an electric thruster operating in the vertical orientation is presented. The vertical orientation of the thruster dictates that the thruster must be horizontally offset from the pendulum pivot arm, necessitating the use of a counterweight system to provide a neutrally-stable system. Motion of the pendulum arm is transferred through a balance mechanism to a secondary arm on which deflection is measured. A non-contact light-based transducer is used to measure displacement of the secondary beam. The members experience very little friction, rotating on twisting torsional pivots with oscillatory motion attenuated by a passive, eddy current damper. Displacement is calibrated using an in situ thrust calibration system. Thermal management and self-leveling systems are incorporated to mitigate thermal and mechanical drifts. Gravitational restoring force and torsional spring constants associated with flexure pivots provide restoring moments. An analysis of the design indicates that the thrust measurement range spans roughly four decades, with the stand capable of measuring thrust up to 12 N for a 200 kg thruster and up to approximately 800 mN for a 10 kg thruster. Data obtained from calibration tests performed using a 26.8 lbm simulated thruster indicated a resolution of 1 mN on 100 mN-level thrusts, while those tests conducted on 200 lbm thruster yielded a resolution of roughly 2.5 micro at thrust levels of 0.5 N and greater.

Moeller, Trevor↗

NASA NTRS2018

Preload Loss in a Spacecraft Fastener via Vibration-Induced Unwinding

Sound engineering practice requires that fasteners and bolted joints maintain preload in service. NASA recently concluded a series of vibration tests of a multicomponent structure intended to simulate an upper stage section of a launch vehicle. The stacked components were joined through six circumferentially placed bolted cup-cone-style pyrotechnic joint mechanisms designed to share spacecraft structural loads and then enable separation during ascent. Over the course of the vibration test campaign, all six bolted cup-cone mechanisms experienced some degree of preload loss with two mechanisms losing half of their original bolt preload. A subsequent forensic anomaly investigation concluded that vibration-induced unwinding of the preload nut-and-bolt assemblies occurred despite the use of safety wire and high levels of thread friction. A series of experiments were done to better understand how large, heavily preloaded fasteners could unwind. Additionally, thread friction torque was measured and the fastener locking capability of safety wire was evaluated. The friction coefficient between the clamped cup-cone components was characterized and finally a highly instrumented mechanism-level vibration test was done to reproduce the unwinding phenomenon to better understand the mechanism's behavior. The conclusion drawn was that vibration and structural forces led to relative motion (sliding) of the clamped components, resulting in self-loosening and unwinding effects on the nut-and-bolt assembly. To counter this phenomenon, more effective fastener locking methodologies were recommended and a follow-on effort was initiated to quantify the relationship between preload, component motion, and resulting unwinding forces. It is hoped that elucidation of these effects can be used to design more effective fastener locking features.

fasteners↗

NASA NTRS1984

Design of high-Reynolds-number flat-plate experiments in the NTF

The design of an experiment to measure skin friction and turbulent boundary-layer characteristics at Reynolds numbers exceeding one billion is described. The experiment will be conducted in a zero-pressure-gradient flow on a flat plate in the National Transonic Facility. The development of computational codes to analyze the aerodynamic loads and the blockage is documented. Novel instrumentationn techniques and models, designed to operate in cryogenic environments, are presented. Special problems associated with aerodynamic loads, surface finish, and hot-wire anemometers are discussed.

Saric, W. S.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Design of high-Reynolds-number flat-plate experiments in the NTF

The design of an experiment to measure skin friction and turbulent boundary layer characteristics at Reynolds numbers exceeding 1 x 10 to the 9th is described. The experiment will be conducted in a zero-pressure-gradient flow on a flat plate in the National Transonic Facility (NTF). The development of computational codes to analyze the aerodynamic loads and the blockage is documented. Novel instrumentation techniques and models, designed to operate in cryogenic environments, are presented. Special problems associated with aerodynamic loads, surface finish, and hot-wire anemometers are discussed.

Saric, William S.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Tribology theory versus experiment

Tribology, the study of friction and wear of materials, has achieved a new interest because of the need for energy conservation. Fundamental understanding of this field is very complex and requires a knowledge of solid-state physics, material science, chemistry, and mechanical engineering. This paper is meant to be didactic in nature and outlines some of the considerations needed for a tribology research program. The approach is first to present a simple model, a field emission tip in contact with a flat surface, in order to elucidate important considerations, such as contact area, mechanical deformations, and interfacial bonding. Then examples from illustrative experiments are presented. Finally, the current status of physical theories concerning interfacial bonding are presented.

Ferrante, John↗