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Results for “laser-based measurement”

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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Measurements of mixed-mode crack surface displacements and comparison with theory

The problem of a finite-width tension specimen containing a crack oriented at various angles to the load axis is attacked from experimental and theoretical viewpoints. Displacements of an electro-machined slot, 12.5 mm long and oriented at angles of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 deg, are measured using a laser-based in-plane measuring technique. Various width specimens, ranging from a crack-length/width ratio of 0.167 to 0.794, are tested. A boundary-integral equation method is extended to deal with the presence of a sharp crack. Agreement between the two approaches is generally good except near the tips of the cracks.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Optical methods for model angle of attack and transition measurement

A novel laser-based sensor for the in situ measurement of wind tunnel model angle of attack is described and the results of a successful demonstration in the NASA Ames 9 x 7-ft. Supersonic wind tunnel are presented. The design concepts of a scanning laser-based turbulence detector, which will enable nonintrusive, microscopic studies of the onset and extent of transition on wind tunnel test models, is also described.

Owen, F. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Laser velocimeter stand-alone controller

A distributed microprocessor network has been developed to position a laser-based velocity measurement package. Designed primarily for use inside the Ames 40 x 80-foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel, the instrument assembly is remotely operated. The mechanical system is reconfigurable for other test environments which necessitates an adaptive control approach. Three stepper motor drives provide two-dimensional positioning of the sampling point over 200/sq m of the test section, with a 5-mm resolution. Real-time multiprocessing provides fast response, fault detection, and parametric data acquisition. Manual tests are run from a dedicated control panel and automated tests are accomplished via an I.E.E.E 488 interface. The design approach and the progress to date are discussed.

Brown, R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Laser pyrometry

A method of determining the emissivity of a hot target from a laser-based reflectance measurement which is conducted simultaneously with a measurement of the target radiance is described. Once the correct radiance and emissivity are determined, one calculates the true target temperature from these parameters via the Planck equations. The design and performance of a laser pyrometer is described. The accuracy of laser pyrometry and the effect of ambient radiance are addressed.

Stein, Alexander↗
NASA NTRS1983

Benchmark cyclic plastic notch strain measurements

Plastic strains at the roots of notched specimens of Inconel 718 subjected to tension-compression cycling at 650 C are reported. These strains were measured with a laser-based technique over a gage length of 0.1 mm and are intended to serve as 'benchmark' data for further development of experimental, analytical, and computational approaches. The specimens were 250 mm by 2.5 mm in the test section with double notches of 4.9 mm radius subjected to axial loading sufficient to cause yielding at the notch root on the tensile portion of the first cycle. The tests were run for 1000 cycles at 10 cpm or until cracks initiated at the notch root. The experimental techniques are described, and then representative data for the various load spectra are presented. All the data for each cycle of every test are available on floppy disks from NASA.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

COD measurements at various positions along a crack

Load versus crack-opening-displacement (COD) was measured at various positions along the border of a fatigue crack as it grew from a small surface crack on the edge of an aluminum specimen into a through-the-thickness crack. Displacements were measured with a laser-based interferometric system with a gage length of 70 microns and a resolution of 0.01 micron. These load-COD curves can be used to determine opening loads and thereby investigate the effect of closure on the growth of small cracks. In general, the opening loads decrease as the crack grows.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Ultraviolet-excimer laser-based incoherent Doppler lidar system

The topics covered include the following: principles of Doppler measurements, laser backscatter, eye safety, demonstration concepts, the wavelength-meter, the interferometer detector, return signal model, and comparison of incoherent and coherent lidars.

Mcdermid, I. Stuart↗
NASA NTRS1986

Laser techniques for arc jet plasma diagnostics; continuation of a feasibility and design study

This study is concerned with the continuation of a feasibility and design study of laser-based diagnostic techniques for the non-instrusive measurement of species concentrations, temperatures, and velocity in the low density, high enthalpy flow through the arc-heated wind tunnel facility (ARMSEF) at NASA/JSC. Last summer several laser-induced radiation scattering methods were investigated and some preliminary measurements of the spectral distribution of radiation emitted by the arc-heated gas flow were made. Based upon those preliminary measurements and subsequent investigations, four laser-induced radiation scattering methods were selected for further detailed study, and preliminary design of a measurement system has been undertaken. Further measurements of the spectral distribution of radiation emitted from the arc-heated free stream and shock layer flows, using a redesigned measurement system, have been made for one axial position in the flow for a range of tunnel operating power levels. Further study of the literature for physical property data, theoretical models of processes, and applications of the diagnostic methods has been also carried out.

Wierum, F. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Resonance ionization mass spectrometry for isotopic abundance measurements

Resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) is a relatively new laser-based technique for the determination of isotopic abundances. The resonance ionization process depends upon the stepwise absorption of photons from the laser, promoting atoms of the element of interest through progressively higher electronic states until an ion is formed. Sensitivity arises from the efficiency of the resonant absorption process when coupled with the power available from commercial laser sources. Selectivity derives naturally from the distinct electronic structure of different elements. This isobaric discrimination has provided the major impetus for development of the technique. Resonance ionization mass spectrometry was used for analysis of the isotopic abundances of the rare earth lutetium. Isobaric interferences from ytterbium severely effect the ability to measure small amounts of the neutron-deficient Lu isotopes by conventional mass spectrometric techniques. Resonance ionization for lutetium is performed using a continuous-wave laser operating at 452 nm, through a sequential two-photon process, with one photon exciting the intermediate resonance and the second photon causing ionization. Ion yields for microgram-sized quantities of lutetium lie between 10(6) and 10(7) ions per second, at overall ionization efficiencies approaching 10(-4). Discrimination factors against ytterbium greater than 10(6) have been measured. Resonance ionization for technetium is also being explored, again in response to an isobaric interference, molybdenum. Because of the relatively high ionization potential for Tc, three-photon, two-color RIMS processes are being developed.

Miller, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

High-resolution lidar system for measuring the spatial and temporal structure of the mesospheric sodium layer

The design of a high-resolution tunable-dye laser-based lidar system for the study of the mesospheric sodium layer is presented and results of sodium measurements are indicated. The lidar system comprises a tunable flashlamp-pumped dye laser operating at the sodium D2 resonance line at 589.0 nm with a pulse width of 2 microsec FWHM and pulse frequency of 10 Hz and a telescope with a 1.22=m diameter Fresnel lens. Sodium profiles are obtained from the integration of 100 to 250 laser shots, with spatial and temporal resolution enhanced by two-dimensional filtering techniques. Measurements obtained over a 9-hour nighttime period illustrate the highly dynamic nature of the sodium layer, which was observed with a spatial resolution of 2 km and temporal resolution of 30 min. Observations made with a steerable apparatus have confirmed a presunrise enhancement of over 100 percent in sodium column abundance.

Gardner, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Laser extensometer

Drift-compensated and intensity-averaged laser-based system uses optical and photoelectric effects for precise measurement of small thermally-induced size changes. Final output signal is directly proportional to size of sample shadow and independent of laser intensity, detector dark current, and lateral motion of sample.

Stocker, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Short fatigue cracks in notched aluminum specimens

The short-crack fatigue behavior in notched specimens of Al 2024-T3 was studied at values of the stress ratio, R, equal to 0.5, 0.0, -1.0, and -2.0. Crack growth was monitored using a replica technique for cracks ranging in length from a few tens of a micron to the specimen's thickness (2.3 mm). Crack opening displacement was measured for surface cracks as short as 0.035 mm using the interferometric strain/displacement gage, a laser-based optical technique described by Sharpe (1982). It was found that the growth rates of short cracks were faster than the rates of long cracks for R values of -1.0 and -2.0. No significant difference was observed for R = 0.0, and at R = 0.5, the short cracks actually grew more slowly that the long ones. At all R values, the closure stresses measured for short cracks were smaller than those predicted for large cracks.

Lee, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Air- and oxygen-broadening coefficients for the O2 rotational line at 60.46/cm

Using an NBS laser-based tunable far-infrared spectrometer, the air- and oxygen-broadening coefficients were measured for the J = 10 - 10, N = 11 - 9 O2 rotational transition at 60.46/cm (1.812 THz). The air-broadening coefficient is 5.04 + or - 0.38 x 10 to the -7th/cm/Pa (0.0511 + or - 0.0039/cm/atm) (HWHM) at 245 + or - 6 K; the oxygen-broadening coefficient is 4.92 + or - 0.47 x 10 to the -7th/cm/Pa (0.0499 + or - 0.0048/cm/atm) (HWHM) at 259 + or -2 K. These direct experimental measurements of the air-broadening coefficient should improve the accuracy of retrieval calculations for far-infrared stratospheric balloon experiments which use O2 rotational lines to calibrate the viewing geometry.

Jennings, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Closed-loop strain controlled testing at elevated temperatures with a non-contacting gage

Normal strains were measured over a 100 micron gage length at a distance of 50 microns from the edge of a notch using a non-contacting, laser-based interferometric technique. Tests were performed at 600 C under direct strain control from this interferometric 'micro-gage'. A minicomputer system, that produced a voltage analog of strain as a final output, controlled the strain measuring apparatus. This analog output was used directly as the feedback signal to a closed-loop, electrohydraulic mechanical test system. This allowed both strain rate and strain amplitude to be controlled at the notch root of the specimen.

Martin, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Short fatigue crack behavior in notched 2024-T3 aluminum specimens

Single-edge, semi-circular notched specimens of Al 2024-T3, 2.3 mm thick, were cyclicly loaded at R-ratios of 0.5, 0.0, -1.0, and -2.0. The notch roots were periodically inspected using a replica technique which duplicates the bore surface. The replicas were examined under an optical microscope to determine the initiation of very short cracks and to monitor the growth of short cracks ranging in length from a few tens of microns to the specimen thickness. In addition to short crack growth measurements, the crack opening displacement (COD) was measured for surface cracks as short as 0.035 mm and for through-thickness cracks using the Interferometric Strain/Displacement Gage (ISDG), a laser-based optical technique. The growth rates of short cracks were faster than the long crack growth rates for R-ratios of -1.0 and -2.0. No significant difference between short and long crack growth rates was observed for R = 0.0. Short cracks had slower growth rates than long cracks for R = 0.5. The crack opening stresses measured for short cracks were smaller than those predicted for large cracks, with little difference appearing for positive R-ratios and large differences noted for negative R-ratios.

Lee, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Laser remote sensing of the atmosphere

A guide to the extant literature concerning remote sensing of the atmosphere by laser-based devices is presented, with emphasis on surveys of the field as well as the most important recent results. Topics surveyed include measurements of aerosol constituents using lidar, the differential absorption lidar technique, the use of laser long-path differential absorption, Raman scattering techniques, and fluorescence lidar techniques. Special attention is given to measuring wind velocity using CO2 heterodyne lidar systems.

Grant, William B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Biaxial laser-based displacement transducer

A simple laser-based instrument is described which produces output voltages proportional to displacements in orthogonal directions. This instrument and the associated experimental techniques have been used to measure biaxial displacements across 400-micron slots at various angles in sheet specimens of various widths.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Optical technique to characterize heavy rain

A technique to measure the size and velocity of raindrops is presented and experimental and numerical results discussed. The technique bases the droplet size on the absolute intensity of the light scattered when the droplets cross a laser-based probe volume. The velocity is obtained from the Doppler frequency. A size range of 0.1 mm to 9 mm was covered with overlapping ranges. Experiments were conducted with simulated rain sprays except that the local LWC was much larger than the values encountered in natural rain. The accuracy of the size measurement was not strongly affected by spray interference, but it showed a clear dependence with the droplet shape. A simple numerical model based on the light reflected from ellipsoids attempts to explain the relationship between droplet shape and absolute scattered light.

Hess, C. F.↗