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At least 1,765 records · Page 98

Indoor test for thermal performance evaluation of the Solaron (air) solar collector

The test procedure used and the results obtained from an evaluation test program, conducted to obtain thermal performance data on a Solaron double glazed air solar collector under simulated conditions in a solar simulator are described. A time constant test and incident angle modifier test were also conducted to determine the transient effect and the incident angle effect on the collector. These results and the results of the collector load test are also discussed. The Solaron collector absorber plate is made of 24-gage steel, the coating is baked-on black paint, the cover consists of two sheets of 1/8-inch low-iron tempered glass, and the insulation is one thickness of 3 5/8-inch fiberglass batting.

Source record↗

Parametric tests of a traction drive retrofitted to an automotive gas turbine

The results of a test program to retrofit a high performance fixed ratio Nasvytis Multiroller Traction Drive in place of a helical gear set to a gas turbine engine are presented. Parametric tests up to a maximum engine power turbine speed of 45,500 rpm and to a power level of 11 kW were conducted. Comparisons were made to similar drives that were parametrically tested on a back-to-back test stand. The drive showed good compatibility with the gas turbine engine. Specific fuel consumption of the engine with the traction drive speed reducer installed was comparable to the original helical gearset equipped engine.

Rohn, D. A.↗

In-flight structural dynamic characteristics of the XV-15 tilt rotor research aircraft

The XV-15 tilt rotor research aircraft has recently completed the contractor flight test program at the Bell Helicopter Textron Flight Research Center, Arlington, Texas. During these development and envelope expansion flights (60 flight hours, 140 flights), the aircraft has been tested up to a maximum true airspeed of 557 km/h (346 mph, 301 knts). Results of the structural characteristics obtained during this testing are presented. Included is a discussion concerning the rotor and airframe loads, natural frequency placements, airframe control system interaction, and wing-rotor-pylon aeroelastic stability. Measured data are compared with predicted values for many cases.

Bilger, J. M.↗

Development of a simple, self-contained flight test data acquisition system

The flight test system described combines state-of-the-art microprocessor technology and high accuracy instrumentation with parameter identification technology which minimize data and flight time requirements. The system was designed to avoid permanent modifications of the test airplane and allow quick installation. It is capable of longitudinal and lateral-directional stability and control derivative estimation. Details of this system, calibration and flight test procedures, and the results of the Cessna 172 flight test program are presented. The system proved easy to install, simple to operate, and capable of accurate estimation of stability and control parameters in the Cessna 172 flight tests.

Clarke, R.↗

Evaluation of the effect of crack closure on fatigue crack growth of simulated short cracks

A test program was performed to determine the influence of crack closure on fatigue crack growth (FCG) rates of short cracks. By use of the standard compact tension specimen, test procedures were devised to evaluate closure loads in the wake of the crack behind its tip. The first procedure determined the magnitude of crack closure as a function of the fatigued crack wave by incrementally removing the contacting wake surfaces and measuring closure load at each increment. The second procedure used a low-high loading sequence to simulate short crack behavior. Based on the results, it was concluded that crack closure is not the major reason for the more rapid growth of short cracks as compared to long crack growth.

Telesman, J.↗

Assessment of Galileo modal test results for mathematical model verification

The modal test program for the Galileo Spacecraft was completed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the summer of 1983. The multiple sine dwell method was used for the baseline test. The Galileo Spacecraft is a rather complex 2433 kg structure made of a central core on which seven major appendages representing 30 percent of the total mass are attached, resulting in a high modal density structure. The test revealed a strong nonlinearity in several major modes. This nonlinearity discovered in the course of the test necessitated running additional tests at the unusually high response levels of up to about 21 g. The high levels of response were required to obtain a model verification valid at the level of loads for which the spacecraft was designed. Because of the high modal density and the nonlinearity, correlation between the dynamic mathematical model and the test results becomes a difficult task. Significant changes in the pre-test analytical model are necessary to establish confidence in the upgraded analytical model used for the final load verification. This verification, using a test verified model, is required by NASA to fly the Galileo Spacecraft on the Shuttle/Centaur launch vehicle in 1986.

Trubert, M.↗

Mathematical Routines For Engineers And Scientists

Programs for frequently-used mathematical procedures save time. Package contains 16 subroutines. Each separately documented with descriptions of invoking subroutine call, its required parameters, and sample test program. Package written in FORTRAN 77.

Kantak, A. V.↗

Interim results from the characterization testing of the Engineering Development (EDM) rubidium clocks for satellite applications

Some interim results from the environmental testing program to evaluate the Engineering Design Model (EDM) of the EG and G Spaceborne Rubidium Clock are presented. This effort is in support of the Global Positioning System (GPS) BLOCK IIR program and is intended to characterize the performance of EG and G design for BLOCK IIR satellite applications. Two EG and G EDM units are currently under test at NRL's Clock Test Facility to measure the long-term frequency stability, drift, and frequency versus temperature characteristics.

Powers, Edward D., Jr.↗

Airborne derivation of microburst alerts from ground-based Terminal Doppler Weather Radar information: A flight evaluation

An element of the NASA/FAA windshear program is the integration of ground-based microburst information on the flight deck, to support airborne windshear alerting and microburst avoidance. NASA conducted a windshear flight test program in the summer of 1991 during which airborne processing of Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) data was used to derive microburst alerts. Microburst information was extracted from TDWR, transmitted to a NASA Boeing 737 in flight via data link, and processed to estimate the windshear hazard level (F-factor) that would be experienced by the aircraft in each microburst. The microburst location and F-factor were used to derive a situation display and alerts. The situation display was successfully used to maneuver the aircraft for microburst penetrations, during which atmospheric 'truth' measurements were made. A total of 19 penetrations were made of TDWR-reported microburst locations, resulting in 18 airborne microburst alerts from the TDWR data and two microburst alerts from the airborne reactive windshear detection system. The primary factors affecting alerting performance were spatial offset of the flight path from the region of strongest shear, differences in TDWR measurement altitude and airplane penetration altitude, and variations in microburst outflow profiles. Predicted and measured F-factors agreed well in penetrations near microburst cores. Although improvements in airborne and ground processing of the TDWR measurements would be required to support an airborne executive-level alerting protocol, the practicality of airborne utilization of TDWR data link data has been demonstrated.

Hinton, David A.↗

Tribological evaluation of an Al2O3-SiO2 ceramic fiber candidate for high temperature sliding seals

A test program to determine the relative sliding durability of an alumina-silica candidate ceramic fiber for high temperature sliding seal applications is described. Pin-on-disk tests were used to evaluate the potential seal material by sliding a tow or bundle of the candidate ceramic fiber against a superalloy test disk. Friction was measured during the tests and fiber wear, indicated by the extent of fibers broken in the tow or bundle, was measured at the end of each test. Test variables studied included ambient temperatures from 25 to 900 C, loads from 1.3 to 21.2 N, and sliding velocities from 0.025 to 0.25 m/sec. In addition, the effects of fiber diameter and elastic modulus on friction and wear were measured. Thin gold films deposited on the superalloy disk surface were evaluated in an effort to reduce friction and wear of the fibers. In most cases, wear increased with test temperature. Friction ranged from 0.36 at 500 C and low velocity (0.025 m/sec) to over 1.1 at 900 C and high velocity (0.25 m/sec). The gold films resulted in satisfactory lubrication of the fibers at 25 C. At elevated temperatures diffusion of substrate elements degraded the films. These results indicate that the alumina-silica (Al2O3-SiO2) fiber is a good candidate material system for high temperature sliding seal applications. More work is needed to reduce friction.

Dellacorte, Christopher↗

Aircraft nose gear shimmy studies

An overview of previous studies involving aircraft nose gear shimmy behavior is given together with some test results identifying the influence of different factors inducing shimmy. A NASA Langley test program conducted at the Landing Loads Track (LLT) facility to evaluate shimmy characteristics of an actual Space Shuttle nose gear is described together with some of the test results. Based on results from these various evaluations, recommendations are made concerning nose gear design features, such as corotating wheels, to minimize the occurence of shimmy.

Yager, Thomas J.↗

How X-37 Technology Demonstration Supports Reusable Launch Vehicles

This presentation discusses, in viewgraph form, how X-37 Technology Demonstration Supports Reusable Launch Vehicles. The topics include: 1) X-37 Program Objectives; 2) X-37 Description; 3) X-37 Vehicle Characteristics; 4) X-37 Expands the Testbed Envelope to Orbital Capability; 5) Overview of X-37 Flight Test Program; 6) Thirty-Nine Technologies and Experiments are Being Demonstrated on the X-37; 7) X-37 Airframe/Structures Technologies; 8) X-37 Mechanical, Propulsion, and Thermal System Technologies and Experiments; 9) X-37 GN&C Technologies; 10) X-37 Avionics, Power, and Software Technologies and Experiments; and 11) X-37 Technologies and Experiments Support Reusable Launch Vehicle Needs.

Manley, David J.↗

Aeroservoelastic Modeling of Body Freedom Flutter for Control System Design

The communication of this method is being used by NASA in the ongoing collaborations with groups interested in the X-56A flight test program. Model generation for body freedom flutter Addressing issues in: State Consistency, Low frequency dynamics, Unsteady aerodynamics. Applied approach to X-56A MUTT: Comparing to flight test data.

Degree of Freedom↗

System IDentification Programs for AirCraft (SIDPAC)

A collection of computer programs for aircraft system identification is described and demonstrated. The programs, collectively called System IDentification Programs for AirCraft, or SIDPAC, were developed in MATLAB as m-file functions. SIDPAC has been used successfully at NASA Langley Research Center with data from many different flight test programs and wind tunnel experiments. SIDPAC includes routines for experiment design, data conditioning, data compatibility analysis, model structure determination, equation-error and output-error parameter estimation in both the time and frequency domains, real-time and recursive parameter estimation, low order equivalent system identification, estimated parameter error calculation, linear and nonlinear simulation, plotting, and 3-D visualization. An overview of SIDPAC capabilities is provided, along with a demonstration of the use of SIDPAC with real flight test data from the NASA Glenn Twin Otter aircraft. The SIDPAC software is available without charge to U.S. citizens by request to the author, contingent on the requestor completing a NASA software usage agreement.

Morelli, Eugene A.↗

A study of the durability of beryllium rocket engines

An experimental test program was performed to demonstrate the durability of a beryllium INTEREGEN rocket engine when operating under conditions simulating the space shuttle reaction control system. A vibration simulator was exposed to the equivalent of 100 missions of X, Y, and Z axes random vibration to demonstrate the integrity of the recently developed injector-to-chamber braze joint. An off-limits engine was hot fired under extreme conditions of mixture ratio, chamber pressure, and orifice plugging. A durability engine was exposed to six environmental cycles interspersed with hot-fire tests without intermediate cleaning, service, or maintenance. Results from this program indicate the ability of the beryllium INTEREGEN engine concept to meet the operational requirements of the space shuttle reaction control system.

Paster, R. D.↗

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC Technical Assistance With Dine College (Final CTAP Report)

Under the CTAP Statement of Work, Sandia was tasked with providing technical assistance to Dine College to create a testing program to determine hazardous contaminant levels in donated hand sanitizer. Sandia will loan instrumentation, provide a procedure, and act as technical advisor. The challenge for on-site testing lies in a balance of testing capability/speed, complexity, and cost of operations. Instruments that allow fastest and least expensive operation will be validated for performance for this sample problem (hand sanitizer w/ poisonous methanol or 1-propanol). The objective of this project is to enable Dine College personnel to perform on-site testing.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Evaluation of a stall-flutter spring-damper pushrod in the rotating control system of a CH-54B helicopter

Results of a design and flight test program conducted to define the effect of rotating pushrod damping on stall-flutter induced control loads are presented. The CH-54B helicopter was chosen as the test aircraft because it exhibited stall induced control loads. Damping was introduced into the CH-54B control system by replacing the standard pushrod with spring-damper assemblies. Design features of the spring-damper are described and the results of a dynamic analysis are shown which define the pushrod stiffness and damping requirements. Flight test measurements taken at 47,000 lb gross weight with and without the damper are presented. The results indicate that the spring-damper pushrods reduced high frequency, stall-induced rotating control loads by almost 50%. Fixed system control loads were reduced by 40%. Handling qualities in stall were unchanged, as expected.

Nettles, W. E.↗

Analysis and test for space shuttle propellant dynamics (1/10th scale model test results). Volume 1: Technical discussion

Space shuttle propellant dynamics during ET/Orbiter separation in the RTLS (return to launch site) mission abort sequence were investigated in a test program conducted in the NASA KC-135 "Zero G" aircraft using a 1/10th-scale model of the ET LOX Tank. Low-g parabolas were flown from which thirty tests were selected for evaluation. Data on the nature of low-g propellant reorientation in the ET LOX tank, and measurements of the forces exerted on the tank by the moving propellent will provide a basis for correlation with an analytical model of the slosh phenomenon.

Berry, R. L.↗