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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 1,711 records · Page 95
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Muscle strength and endurance following lowerlimb suspension in man

The effect of lower-limb suspension on the muscle strength and muscle endurance was investigated in six men subjected to four weeks of unilateral unloading of a lower limb (using of a harness attached to a modified shoe), followed by seven weeks of weight-bearing recovery. Results showed a decrease in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the thigh muscle and in the average peak torque (APT) during three bouts of 30 concentric knee extensions. While the the thigh muscle CSA returned to normal after seven weeks of recovery, the APT recovery was still reduced by 11 percent, suggesting that muscle metabolic function was severely affected by unloading and was not restored by ambulation.

Tesch, Per A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Optimum design using VICONOPT, a buckling and strength constraint program for prismatic assemblies of anisotropic plates

A computer program for obtaining the optimum (least mass) dimensions of the kind of prismatic assemblies of laminated, composite plates which occur in advanced aerospace construction is described. Rigorous buckling analysis (derived from exact member theory) and a tailored design procedure are used to produce designs which satisfy buckling and material strength constraints and configurational requirements. Analysis is two to three orders of magnitude quicker than FEM, keeps track of all the governing modes of failure and is efficiently adapted to give sensitivities and to maintain feasibility. Tailoring encourages convergence in fewer sizing cycles than competing programs and permits start designs which are a long way from feasible and/or optimum. Comparisons with its predecessor, PASCO, show that the program is more likely to produce an optimum, will do so more quickly in some cases, and remains accurate for a wider range of problems.

Butler, R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Void effects on the interlaminar shear strength of unidirectional graphite-fiber-reinforced composites

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of voids on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of a polyimide matrix composite system. The graphite/PMR-15 composite was chosen for study because of the extensive amount of experience that has been amassed in the processing of this material. Void contents were calculated and the void geometry and distribution were noted using microscope techniques such as those used in metallography. A good empirical correlation between ILSS and composite density was found. The most acceptable relationship between the ILSS and density was found to be a power equation that closely resembles theoretically derived expressions. It was found that void-free composites could be processed in matched metal die molds at pressures greater than 1.4 MPa and less than 6.9 MPa.

Bowles, Kenneth J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Effects Of Geometry On Tensile Strengths Of Butt Welds

Report presents results of empirical evaluation of theorectical equation that predicts ultimate tensile strength of butt weld as function of some properties of welded metal and of geometry of weld.

Gordon, Stephen S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Progressive failure methodologies for predicting residual strength and life of laminated composites

Two progressive failure methodologies currently under development by the Mechanics of Materials Branch at NASA Langley Research Center are discussed. The damage tolerance/fail safety methodology developed by O'Brien is an engineering approach to ensuring adequate durability and damage tolerance by treating only delamination onset and the subsequent delamination accumulation through the laminate thickness. The continuum damage model developed by Allen and Harris employs continuum damage laws to predict laminate strength and life. The philosophy, mechanics framework, and current implementation status of each methodology are presented.

Harris, Charles E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Dielectronic recombination as a function of electric field strength

Dielectronic recombination (DR) is the dominant recombination mechanism at coronal temperatures and densities. We present a procedure for calculating DR rate coefficients as a function of electric field strength and apply this method to carbon ions. We focus on the competing effects of enhancement by plasma microfields and rate decrease through collisional excitation and ionization. We find that, in the case of C(3+), a significant rate enhancement results, leading to a reinterpretation of C IV emission-line intensities in the sun and late-type stars. We further consider how macroscopic electric fields, in particular motional electric fields, can affect DR rate coefficients, demonstrating dramatic rate increases for a number of the carbon ions.

Reisenfeld, Daniel B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Absorption band oscillator strengths of N2 transitions between 95.8 and 99.4 nm

Molecular nitrogen plays a central role in the energetics of the earth's upper atmosphere and is the major constituent of the atmospheres of the planetary satellites Titan and Triton. This paper reports a new set of absorption oscillator strengths measured at higher resolution for seven bands in the 95.8-99.4 nm region. The results are compared with earlier, lower resolution absorption measurements, electron scattering measurements, and calculations based on a deperturbation analysis of the excited states.

Stark, G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A relation between magnetic field strength and temperature in sunspots

We present Stokes I Zeeman splitting measurements of sunspots using the highly sensitive (g = 3) Fe I line at a wavelength of 1.5649 micron. The splittings are compared with simultaneous intensity measurements in the adjacent continuum. The relation between magnetic field strength and temperature has a characteristic, nonlinear shape in all the spots studied. In the umbra, there is an approximately linear relation between B super 2 and T sub b, consistent with magnetohydrostatic equilibrium in a nearly vertical field. A distinct flattening of the B super 2 vs T sub b relationship in the inner penumbra may be due to changes in the lateral pressure balance as the magnetic field becomes more horizontal; spatially unresolved intensity inhomogeneities may also influence the observed relation.

Kopp, Greg↗
NASA NTRS1992

On the strength of oceanic fracture zones and their influence on the intraplate stress field

We use the locations and source mechanisms of oceanic intraplate earthquakes to test the hypothesis that the strength of oceanic fracture zones is less than that of normal oceanic lithosphere. The 77 earthquakes selected for the study have well-determined focal mechanisms and epicenters in regions where fracture zones are well mapped. We have search for dependence of faulting style, fault orientation, or principal stress direction on the distance from the nearest fracture zone. If fracture zones were generally weaker than the surrounding lithosphere, one of the principal horizontal stresses would be oriented nearly perpendicular to the fracture zone; we find no evidence that principal stresses near fracture zones are oriented preferentially in this manner. There is a slight tendency for earthquakes to occur near fracture zones, and patterns of fault orientation and sense of slip support the view that differential cooling and horizontal contraction on fracture zones may contribute seismogenic stress.

Bergman, Eric A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Effect of hydrogen on the strength and microstructure of selected ceramics

Ceramics in monolithic form and as composite constituents in the form of fibers, matrices, and coatings are currently being considered for a variety of high-temperature applications in aeronautics and space. Many of these applications involve exposure to a hydrogen-containing environment. The compatibility of selected ceramics in gaseous high-temperature hydrogen is assessed. Environmental stability regimes for the long term use of ceramic materials are defined by the parameters of temperature, pressure, and moisture content. Thermodynamically predicted reactions between hydrogen and several monolithic ceramics are compared with actual performance in a controlled environment. Morphology of hydrogen attack and the corresponding strength degradation is reported for silicon carbide, silicon nitride, alumina, magnesia, and mullite.

Herbell, Thomas P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Small-crack growth behavior in high-strength aluminum alloys - A NASA/CAE cooperative program

NASA and the Chinese Aeronautics Establishment have participated in a Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics Cooperative Program giving attention to small-crack effects in high-strength Al alloys. Experimental and analytical investigations studied crack initiation and growth behavior of small cracks in both bare 7075-T6 and clad LC9cs Al alloys, with a view to the improvement of their fracture-mechanics analyses in the cases of surface crack and corner crack configurations. It is also expected that superior life-prediction methods will be developed in order to correlate and predict small crack and large crack growth with various load histories.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Cyclotron line strength variations in gamma-ray burst GB870303 - Possible evidence of neutron star rotation

An exhaustive search of the Ginga data on gamma-ray burst GB870303 reveals two separate time intervals during which statistically significant line features are evident. One interval shows a single prominent line feature at about 20 keV; a second, shows two line features at about 20 and 40 keV. From model fits to the data, we find that both sets of lines are well-described by cyclotron resonant scattering in a magnetic field B about 1.8 x 10 exp 12 G, and that the differences in the line strengths between the two intervals are significant. The variations are qualitatively similar to those produced by a change in the viewing angle theta relative to the magnetic field. We conjecture that the change in theta is due to rotation of the neutron star, and derive limits P = 45-180 sec on the rotation period P.

Graziani, Carlo↗
NASA NTRS1993

Gravity field over northern Eurasia and variations in the strength of the upper mantle

The correlation of long-wavelength gravity anomalies in northern Eurasia with seismic velocity anomalies in the upper mantle reverses in sign between western and eastern Eurasia. The difference between western and eastern Eurasia can be explained by the presence of a low-viscosity zone in the uppermost mantle beneath eastern Eurasia that is absent to the west. The location of the lateral change in viscosity corresponds with the geologic boundary between the older shields and platforms of the Baltics, Russia, and Siberia and the younger, geologically active mountain belts of eastern Asia. This relation provides evidence that differences in the strength of the upper mantle control the locus of intracontinental deformation.

Kogan, Mikhail G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Magnetic field strengths in high-redshift galaxies - Can the galactic dynamo be tested?

The hypothesis that the population of strong H I absorption systems is responsible for a significant excess Faraday rotation measure in quasars is discussed, and it is concluded that the case is unproved, in contrast to a recent analysis by Wolf et al. (1991). The limitations and pitfalls inherent in attempts to derive firm magnetic field strengths from the existing integrated rotation measures of quasars are discussed, and it is shown that although it is premature to use integrated quasar rotation measures to either confirm or rule out particular mechanisms of magnetic field amplification in galaxy disks, the present observations may call for reexamination of current theories of large-scale magnetic field generation. The sources of rotation measure in the double quasar 0957+561 are also discussed.

Perry, Judith J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Line strength variations in gamma-ray bursts GB870303 - Possible evidence of neutron star rotation

An exhaustive search of the Ginga data on gamma-ray burst GB870303 reveals two separate time intervals during which statistically significant line features are evident. One (previously unreported) interval shows a single prominent line feature at about 20 keV; a second, corresponding to the interval reported by Murakami et al. (1988), shows two line features at 20 and 40 keV. From model fits to the data, we find that both sets of lines are well-described by cyclotron resonant scattering in a magnetic field B around 1.8 x 10 exp 12 G, and that the differences in the line strengths between the two intervals are significant. The variations are qualitatively similar to those produced by a change in the viewing angle theta relative to the magnetic field. We conjecture that the change in theta is due to rotation of the neutron star, and derive limits of 45-180 sec on the rotation period P.

Graziani, C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A comparison of two Shuttle launch and entry suits - Reach envelope, isokinetic strength, and treadmill tests

A quantification has been conducted of any existing differences between the performance, in operational conditions, of the Space Shuttle crew Launch Entry Suit (LES) and the new Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES). While LES is a partial-pressure suit, the ACES system which is being considered as a replacement for LES is a full-pressure suit. Three tests have been conducted with six subjects to ascertain the suits' reach envelope, strength, and treadmill performance. No significant operational differences were found between the two suit designs.

Schafer, Lauren E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Stiffener attachment concepts for graphite-epoxy panels designed for postbuckling strength

Stiffener attachment concepts for suppressing or delaying the onset of the skin-stiffener separation failure mode in graphite-epoxy compression panels designed for postbuckling strength were experimentally studied. The effectiveness of these concepts was evaluated using panels with 16-ply skins and a single centrally-located I-shaped stiffener with both static and cyclic compressive loadings. Analytical results suggest that tailoring the relative thicknesses of the panel skin, stiffener attachment flange, and the stiffener web rotational stiffness can minimize the adverse effects of high interface shear and normal stresses. Interface stress levels may be reduced by tapering the thickness of the stiffener attachment flange and properly selecting the stacking sequences of the skin and stiffener attachment flange laminates.

Dickson, John N.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Composite sandwich construction with syntactic foam core - A practical assessment of post-impact damage and residual strength

An account is given of an inspection method that has been successfully used to assess the postimpact damage and residual strength of syntactic (glass microspheres in epoxy matrix) foam-core sandwich panels with hybrid (carbon and glass fiber-reinforced) composite skins, which inherently possess high damage tolerance. SEM establishes that the crushing of the microspheres is responsible for the absorption of most of the impact energy. Damage tolerance is a function of the localization of damage by that high impact energy absorption.

Hiel, C.↗