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| 1.30.2009 |
The NASA Glenn ROVER, a New X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) and Real-Time Digital Radiography Facility is Operational: This new addition of the Hytek X-ray micro-CT to our existing X-ray vault is matched with a 200KV Feinfocus microfocus x-ray source. This unique cart mounted portable system includes a 4-axis motion control unit with a 16” swing diameter, a Varian 2520V Cesium iodide detector, a Windows dedicated workstation and all acquisition, processing and visualization software. The CT system will be heavily used in the future - this system will be needed to virtually slice and volumetrically measure many types of damage during tests of upcoming exploration components. Examples related to exploration include examination of impact damage in seals for components to be used in the Crew Exploration Vehicle's service module, ceramic materials for tile repair, granular patterns in simulated lunar material, and composites where SiC/SiC, C/SiC, and coated C/C are being heavily considered for hypersonic components such as thermal protection systems. Additionally, “The NDE Wave & Image Processor” developed at GRC now opens raw Hytek files directly (without having to convert to other image formats) so that one can use the latest state-of-the-art image processing and analysis algorithms to process images or image series from CT and radiography. This software will be used to supplement the Hytek-supplied software. This buildup was supported by Code Q NASA NDE Working Group project of the Safety and Mission Assurance and the NASA Engineering Science Center External Tank Thermal Protection System NDE Project.
Point of Contact: Don Roth, Richard Rauser
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| 1.23.2009 |
Microwave Sensors Acquire Clearance Data on Ultra High Bypass Turbofan: Microwave clearance sensors were used to acquire blade tip clearance and timing data on an Ultra High Bypass Turbofan that was tested in the 9x15 LSWT in September 2008. These sensors are being investigated as a means of making high temperature non-contact tip clearance and tip timing measurements for use in active clearance control, structural health monitoring, and other close tolerance control applications associated with turbine engines and rotating machinery. Data was acquired over several operations of the turbofan. The clearance results agreed with values acquired with capacitive sensors during a previous test entry. This experiment successfully demonstrated the microwave sensors ability to acquire clearance data on aero engine sized hardware. It also showed the systems ability to make measurements on composite blades by coating the blade tips with a metallic material. This work was supported by the Fundamental Aeronautics Subsonic Fixed Wing Project. Points of Contact: Mark Woike, Christopher Hughes, and John Gazzaniga
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| 1.23.2009 |
A paper was presented at the 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting entitled "Self-Diagnostic Accelerometer for mission critical health monitoring of aircraft and spacecraft engines” : A self-diagnostic accelerometer system has been shown to be sensitive to multiple failure modes of charge mode accelerometers. These failures include sensor structural damage, an electrical open circuit and most importantly sensor detachment. Experimental work that was performed to determine the capabilities of a self-diagnostic accelerometer system while operating in the presence of various levels of mechanical noise, emulating real world conditions, was described and discussed. The results show that the system can successfully conduct a self-diagnostic routine under these conditions. This work was supported by the Integrated Vehicle Health Management project.
Point of Contact: John Lekki
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| 1.23.2009 |
Presentation on development of a Rayleigh Scattering Mass Flux Measurement System at AIAA 47th Aerospace Sciences Meeting :Dr. Amy Mielke presented a paper on the development of a non-intrusive molecular Rayleigh scattering diagnostic technique that is capable of providing spatially-resolved measurements of gas velocity and density along a short (~ 4 mm) linear region of an unseeded gas flows at the Aerospace Sciences Meeting held in Orlando, FL, January 5-8, 2009. The simultaneous velocity and density measurements were used to calculate mass flux. The technique has been demonstrated in a 10 mm diameter nozzle flow and will be implemented in the 15x15 cm Supersonic Wind Tunnel at NASA GRC in the next phase of this project. This work was funded by the Hypersonics discipline under the Fundamental Aeronautics Program.
Points of Contact: Amy Mielke
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| 1.23.2009 |
Presentation of “One-Dimensional Scanning Approach to Shock Sensing “at the AIAA 47th Aerospace Science Meeting R. Tokars presented a paper discussing image processing techniques of patterns generated by laser pencil beams interacting with optical inhomogeneities at the Aerospace Science Meeting and Exhibit held in Orlando, FL, January 5-8, 2009. The interactions of laser pencil beams with the flow inhomogeneities lead to spreading of the beams and formation of secondary fringes and scattering patterns. These patterns can be indicative of aerodynamic shocks. The simplicity of the technique makes it useful for shock sensing and control in airborne high-speed applications. The work has been supported by the Hypersonic Project under the Fundamental Aeronautics Program.Points of Contact: Roger Tokars, Grigory Adamovsky
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