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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 1,747 records · Page 97
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

The metrology of spherical shells using synchrotron x ray microtomography

With recent advances in solid state imaging technology and the increasing availability of synchrotron x-ray radiation sources, synchrotron x-ray microtomography is emerging as a nondestructive technique for the evaluation of the structure and composition of small specimens with spatial resolution in the micron range. Synchrotron radiation offers the following advantages over conventional x-ray sources: high brightness, continuous emission which is tunable over a large energy range, faster data collection rates, and a highly collimated beam of large cross section permitting the illumination of large specimens. Synchrotron x-ray microtomography enables the structure of individual spheres to be evaluated in order to reveal the concentricity and sphericity of the internal void and the uniformity of the shell wall in the case of high quality spherical shells for Sandia National Laboratories' Inertial Confinement Fusion project.

Hmelo, Anthony B.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The effect of hydrogen on the deformation behavior of a single crystal nickel-base superalloy

The effect of hydrogen on the tensile deformation behavior of PWA 1480 is presented. Tensile tests were interrupted at different plastic strain levels to observe the development of the dislocation structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) foils were cut perpendicular to the tensile axis to allow the deformation of both phases to be simultaneously observed as well as parallel to zone axes (III) to show the superdislocations on their slip planes. Similar to other nickel-base superalloys, hydrogen was detrimental to the room temperature tensile properties of PWA 1480. There was little effect on strength, however the material was severely embrittled. Even without hydrogen, the elongation-to-failure was only approximately 3 percent. The tensile fracture surface was made up primarily of ductile voids with regions of cleavage fracture. These cleavage facets are the eutectic (gamma') in the microstructure. It was shown by quantitative fractography that hydrogen embrittles the eutectic (gamma') and causes the crack path to seek out and fracture through the eutectic (gamma'). There was two to three times the amount of cleavage on the fracture surface of the hydrogen-charged samples than on the surface of the uncharged samples. The effect of hydrogen can also be seen in the dislocation structure. There is a marked tendency for dislocation trapping in the gamma matrix with and without hydrogen at all plastic strain levels. Without hydrogen there is a high dislocation density in the gamma matrix leading to strain exhaustion in this region and failure through the matrix. The dislocation structure at failure with hydrogen is slightly different. The TEM foils cut parallel to zone axes (III) showed dislocations wrapping around gamma precipitates. Zone axes (001) foils show that there is a lower dislocation density in the gamma matrix which can be linked to the effects of hydrogen on the fracture behavior. The primary activity in the gamma precipitates is in the form of superlattice intrinsic stacking faults (SISFs). These faults have also been reported in other ordered alloys and superalloys.

Walston, W. S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Wet spinning of solid polyamic acid fibers

The invention is a process for the production of solid aromatic polyamic acid and polyimide fibers from a wet gel or coagulation bath wet gel using N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solutions of the polyamic acid derived from aromatic dianhydrides such as 3,3',4,4' benzophenonetetra carboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and aromatic diamines such as 4,4'-oxydianiline (4,4'-ODA). By utilizing the relationship among coagulation medium and concentration, resin inherent viscosity, resin percent solids, filament diameter, and fiber void content, it is possible to make improved polyamic acid fibers. Solid polyimide fibers, obtained by the thermal cyclization of the polyamic acid precursor, have increased tensile properties compared to fibers containing macropores from the same resin system.

Dorogy, William E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A linear control design structure to maintain loop properties during limit operation in a multi-nozzle turbofan engine

The implementation of multi-variable control systems on turbofan engines requires the use of limit protection to maintain safe engine operation. Since a turbofan engine typically encounters limits during transient operation, the use of a limit protection scheme that modifies the feedback loop may void the desired 'guarantees' associated with linear multi-variable control design methods, necessitating considerable simulation to validate the control with limited protection. An alternative control design structure is proposed that maintains the desired linear feedback properties when certain safety limits are encountered by moving the limit protection scheme outside the feedback loop. This proposed structure is compared to a structure with a limit protection scheme that modifies the feedback loop properties. The two design structures are compared using both linear and nonlinear simulations. The evaluation emphasizes responses where the fan surge margin limit is encountered.

Mattern, Duane↗
NASA NTRS1990

The universe in a box - Thermal effects in the standard cold dark matter scenario

An attempt is made to compute the evolution of a representative piece of the universe at a minimal resolution of a flux-based mesh code coupled with a standard particle-mesh dark matter code. It is found that, on scales greater than 1/h Mpc, dark matter is more clumped than gas. Bremsstrahlung and Compton cooling are unimportant on scales of 1 Mpc or greater. Shocks gradually heat the gas, leaving most of it in voids at T = 10 exp 3.5 K or less, but with a small fraction reaching T = 10 million K or more. Ultraviolet and soft X-ray emission from the heated gas is significant, providing an important part of the background radiation field and significant ionizing of the intergalactic medium. The mean induced Delta T/T for microwave background radiation in the Rayleigh-Jeans part of the spectrum is 1.1 x 10 to the -6th with fluctuation of 5.6 x 10 to the -7th on arcmin scales and a mean y parameter of 5.5 x 10 to the -7th, which is potentially detectable by the COBE satellite.

Cen, R. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A deep Abell cluster redshift survey

Redshifts have been measured for a complete sample of 145 Abell clusters of galaxies of median redshift 0.16 covering a 561 sq deg region at high Galactic latitude. Clustering on scales greater than about 70/h Mpc cannot be detected. A large void of diameter about 20,000 km/s seen in maps of the cluster distribution is consistent with smaller scale behavior of the correlation function of the survey. Large-scale peculiar motions are about 1000 km/s or less, a limit inconsistent with the claimed detection by Bahcall et al. (1986) of peculiar motions of about 2000 km/s.

Huchra, John P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Filament winding cylinders. I - Process model

A model was developed which describes the filament winding process of composite cylinders. The model relates the significant process variables such as winding speed, fiber tension, and applied temperature to the thermal, chemical and mechanical behavior of the composite cylinder and the mandrel. Based on the model, a user friendly code was written which can be used to calculate (1) the temperature in the cylinder and the mandrel, (2) the degree of cure and viscosity in the cylinder, (3) the fiber tensions and fiber positions, (4) the stresses and strains in the cylinder and in the mandrel, and (5) the void diameters in the cylinder.

Lee, Soo-Yong↗
NASA NTRS1990

Filament winding cylinders. III - Selection of the process variables

By using the Lee-Springer filament winding model temperatures, degrees of cure, viscosities, stresses, strains, fiber tensions, fiber motions, and void diameters were calculated in graphite-epoxy composite cylinders during the winding and subsequent curing. The results demonstrate the type of information which can be generated by the model. It is shown, in reference to these results, how the model, and the corresponding WINDTHICK code, can be used to select the appropriate process variables.

Lee, Soo-Yong↗
NASA NTRS1990

Coherent backscatter and the radar characteristics of outer planet satellites

It is presently suggested that the diffuse component-dominated high radar reflectivities and large polarization of Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto could be due to the illumination by a collimated source of a weakly absorbing particulate medium in which wavelength-scaled scatterers are separated by distances somewhat larger than the wavelength. A plausible medium could be a regolith composed of voids and/or silicate rocks imbedded in an icy matrix; multiply-scattered parts of the wavefront traversing the same path in opposite directions combine coherently in the backscatter direction to generate increased intensity, and the enhancement is different for the two components of polarized reflected radiation.

Hapke, Bruce↗
NASA NTRS1991

Flow visualization and quantitative velocity and pressure measurements in simulated single and double brush seals

A method to visualize and characterize the complex flow fields in simulated single and double brush seals is presented. The brush seal configuration was tested in a gravity fed water tunnel and a pump driven pressurized oil tunnel. Visualization of the flow field revealed regions that are characteristically river jetting, vortical, crossflow and exist upstream, downstream or within the seal. Such flows are especially engendered by variations in fiber void that are spatial and temporal and affect changes in seal leakage and stability. While the effects of interface motion and cylindrical configuration have not been considered herein, it is believed that the observed flow fields and pressure drop patterns characterize flow phenomenology in brush seals. The axial pressure profiles upstream, across and downstream of the brush have been measured under a variety of inlet pressure conditions and the ensuing pressure maps are presented and discussed. Through the application of the Full Flow Field Tracking method developed by the authors, the flow patterns and the accompanying fluid velocities inside the brush were non-intrusively determined and graphically reconstructed.

Braun, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The effect of weak interface on transverse properties of a ceramic matrix composite

Experimental studies conducted at NASA Lewis on SiC reaction-bonded Si3N4 composite system showed that transverse stiffness and strength were much lower than those predicted from existing analytical models based on good interfacial bonding. It was believed that weakened interfaces were responsible for the decrease in tranverse properties. To support this claim, a two-dimensional FEM analysis was performed for a transverse representative volume element. Specifically, the effect of fiber/matrix displacement compatibility at the interface was studied under both tensile and compressive transverse loadings. Interface debonding was represented using active gap elements connecting the fiber and matrix. The analyses show that the transverse tensile strength and stiffness are best predicted when a debonded interface is assumed for the composite. In fact, the measured properties can be predicted by simply replacing the fibers by voids. Thus, it is found that little or no interfacial bonding exists in the composite, and that an elastic analysis can predict the transverse stiffness and strength.

Shimansky, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Modelling the spatial distribution of QSO absorption lines

A formalism has been developed for testing specific models for the three-dimensional spatial distributions of Ly-alpha clouds against the line-of-sight observations. The formalism can be used to compute the redshift density of lines and the distribution of line-interval sizes along a line-of-sight for comparison with the observations. A few simple models are considered: a Poisson distribution of Ly-alpha clouds, clouds arising from density fluctuations with a white-noise power spectrum, clouds distributed only on shells of constant comoving radii, clouds restricted to shells that are expanding in a self-similar fashion, and a Poisson distribution of clouds in the 'walls' between small-scale voids.

Babul, Arif↗
NASA NTRS1991

Large-scale structure in a texture-seeded cold dark matter cosmogony

This paper studies the formation of large-scale structure by global texture in a flat universe dominated by cold dark matter. A code for evolution of the texture fields was combined with an N-body code for evolving the dark matter. The results indicate some promising aspects: with only one free parameter, the observed galaxy-galaxy correlation function is reproduced, clusters of galaxies are found to be significantly clustered on a scale of 20-50/h Mpc, and coherent structures of over 50/h Mpc in the galaxy distribution were found. The large-scale streaming motions observed are in good agreement with the observations: the average magnitude of the velocity field smoothed over 30/h Mpc is 430 km/sec. Global texture produces a cosmic Mach number that is compatible with observation. Also, significant evolution of clusters at low redshift was seen. Possible problems for the theory include too high velocity dispersions in clusters, and voids which are not as empty as those observed.

Park, Changbom↗
NASA NTRS1990

Two-phase flow bubbly mixing for liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic energy conversion

Experiments aimed at improving mixer design and investigating the effects of surfactants on the two-phase mixture in two-phase liquid metal MHD (LMMHD) energy conversion systems are described. In addition to conventional photography, flash X-ray imaging was used as a diagnostic tool. It was demonstrated that a high void fraction (0.8) and low velocity slip ratio (1.2) two-phase homogeneous bubbly mixture can be created. It is expected that such a two-phase mixture can be further expanded in a LMMHD generator while maintaining low velocity slip. In such a way, high generator and overall system efficiency would be achieved, making LMMHD systems competitive for a number of commercial applications.

Fabris, G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Quasi-periodic structures in the large-scale galaxy distribution and three-dimensional Voronoi tessellation

It has been suggested that the void and wall structure associated with the large-scale galaxy distribution might be qualitatively, or perhaps even physically, modeled by a Voronoi tessellation, and that such structure might account for the surprisingly regular, sharp peaks in the galaxy redshift distributions obtained from 'pencil beam' surveys. Taking cell wall crossings by random line segments to correspond to such redshift peaks, an exact expression is derived for the distribution of spacings of these intersections in a three-dimensional Voronoi tessellation. This result verifies that the spacings are nonrandom and quasi-periodic, qualitatively resembling the observed pattern, even though the cell wall structure is generated from randomly placed seeds. Finally, moments of the spacing distribution are used to show that apparently periodic samples, similar to those recently reported, represent only one to two sigma fluctuations in a Voronoi tesselation.

Ikeuchi, Satoru↗
NASA NTRS1991

Current collection and current closure in the Tethered Satellite System

Current collection and closure-path modeling are examined analytically with respect to the Tethered Satellite System (TSS). A particle-in cell code is compared with a one-dimensional unmagnetized fluid code to model the behavior of a positively charged satellite in the ionosphere. The morphology of the sheath and the sheath-region processes are thus examined, and the influence of ions leaving the sheath region is found to cause the attraction of an electron current that is 40 times greater than the steady state value. The enhancement is transient and enhances the acceleration of the electrons in the sheath. A set of modified MHD equations, including those for ion inertia, quasineutrality, and electron drift, is employed to model TSS current closure. Whistler modes are found to exist and can be excited as the TSS passes through the ionosphere. Important conclusions include a significant fluctuation level in the steady state sheath, an ion void which affects the electron population, and some long-lived electrons trapped in the settled sheath with respect to two directions.

Drobot, Adam↗
NASA NTRS1991

Effects of processing induced defects on laminate response - Interlaminar tensile strength

Four different layup methods were used in the present study of the interlaminar tensile strength of AS4/3501-6 graphite-reinforced epoxy as a function of defects from manufacturing-induced porosity. The methods were: (1) baseline hand layup, (2) solvent wipe of prepreg for resin removal, (3) moisture-introduction between plies, and (4) a low-pressure cure cycle. Pore characterization was conducted according to ASTM D-2734. A significant reduction is noted in the out-of-plane tensile strength as a function of increasing void content; the porosity data were used in an empirical model to predict out-of-plane strength as a function of porosity.

Gurdal, Zafer↗
NASA NTRS1990

Flow visualization in a simulated brush seal

A method to visualize and characterize the complex flow fields in simulated brush seals is presented. The brush seal configuration was tested in a water and then in an oil tunnel. The visualization procedure revealed typical regions that are rivering, jetting, vortical or lateral flows and exist upstream, downstream or within the seal. Such flows are engendered by variations in fiber void that are spatial and temporal and affect changes in seal leakage and stability. While the effects of interface motion for linear or cylindrical configurations have not been considered herein, it is believed that the observed flow fields characterize flow phenomenology in both circular and linear brush seals. The axial pressure profiles upstream, across and downstream of the brush in the oil tunnel have been measured under a variety of inlet pressure conditions and the ensuing pressure maps are presented and discussed.

Braun, M. J.↗