DOCSLIB.ORG

2020 Southwest Research Institute Annual Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2020 Southwest Research Institute Annual Report ANNUAL REPORT 2020 SwRI COMBATS COVID-19 When 2020 began, no one could anticipate what the year would bring. TABLE OF Soon after news broke of the Through the San Antonio To take cleaning crews out of Meanwhile, our emissions CONTENTS outbreak of a novel coronavirus, Partnership for Precision harm’s way, we are participating specialists rapidly repurposed We also stayed vigilant toward Southwest Research Institute Therapeutics, we joined forces in an Advanced Robotics for techniques and technology critical client work in progress began working with the scientific with Texas Biomedical Research Manufacturing Institute project developed to support clean air at SwRI when the pandemic hit. and medical communities in San Institute, UT Health San Antonio to develop the Mobile Autonomous initiatives and applied them to When stay-at-home orders Antonio and across the U.S. to and The University of Texas at Industrial Disinfector (MAID), a address mask shortages during hampered clients’ ability to President’s Message 2 gain scientific insights into the San Antonio on four collaborative robot system to perform surface the pandemic. For the benefit of monitor their projects, we disease. Once a 3D image of the programs to advance global disinfection for industrial medical personnel working on IR&D 2020 3 launched new techniques to virus protein was made available, COVID-19 intervention for early- workspaces. The collaborative the front lines, we reconfigured allow them to stay in contact SwRI’s drug development team stage antidotes and a potential multi-axis robot will be outfitted our Automotive Particle Filtration Milestones 2020 4 with our technical staff to used our Rhodium™ software to vaccine. Our artificial intelligence with a disinfection system and a Lab to evaluate emergent face discuss progress, problems virtually screen millions of drug experts also worked with these sensor suite to identify areas that mask supplies. This work almost Automotive & and opportunities. compounds to find potential collaborators to frame infection need cleaning, execute the immediately discovered that Transportation 6 treatments. In just 21 days, our dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 as a disinfecting process and keep eight out of 11 KN95 respirator chemists had screened 5 million deep recurrent neural network, records of completed tasks. samples were counterfeit and Defense & Security 12 possible compounds, selected one of four models used by failed to meet the efficacy Microbiologists are investigating Earth & Space 16 60 for toxicity testing, and the city of San Antonio during standards claimed on their how to better prepare for future ultimately recommended that 44 the pandemic. packaging. Chemists also used personal protective equipment, Energy & Environment 18 undergo antiviral assay. Then we our Floodlight™ and Searchlight™ To address the shortage of disinfectants and whole room began using U.S. Department of software to assess chemical medical supplies, the SwRI- disinfection needs. Manufacturing & Reliability 20 Defense supercomputers to exposure from mask materials. operated South Central regional turbocharge this already powerful Chemistry & Materials 22 office of the Texas Manufacturing tool in the hunt for therapeutics. Assistance Center worked with Biomedical & Health 23 SwRI is working with Iowa State regional nonprofits, government ON THE COVER SwRI’s microbiological, biosafety University to develop a nasally entities and businesses to launch level 2 lab quickly ramped up to Financial Highlights 24 administered coronavirus vaccine the Medical Manufacturing support numerous programs formulation for preclinical Alliance of South Central Texas, addressing the COVID-19 Board of Directors pandemic, while maintaining testing. SwRI is leveraging over aligning regional manufacturing support for advanced vaccine and Officers 25 70 years of microencapsulation supply chains with medical strategies, antimicrobial formulation expertise and our product demands. formulation screening, and Advisory Trustees 26 disinfectant and antimicrobial Current Good Manufacturing technology assessments. Practice-compliant capabilities Community Contributions 29 to help develop a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine using Iowa State’s proprietary process and polymer. This Rhodium image shows possible therapeutics docked with the novel coronavirus protein, illustrating how the therapy could thwart disease processes. D024045_9845 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I am pleased to present the SwRI accomplishments that underscore the generosity. Our staff responded to calls Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), value of our unique multidisciplinary for blood donations, school supplies, which will go down as one of the most approach to solving complex problems mask testing and many other tasks during unique years in the Institute’s 73-year and bringing promising ideas to fruition. the most difficult of times. Our record- history. During the second half of FY20, Our engineers and scientists are setting contributions to the United Way as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, our revolutionizing electric energy production demonstrated the extraordinary staff and leadership proved to be by demonstrating new, more efficient benevolence of our organization. particularly agile and adaptive as we supercritical carbon dioxide power cycles. While uncertain national and inter- continued to serve our clients, keep our In addition, a new five-year, $25 million national conditions and financial recovery employees as safe as possible and contract with the Environmental Protection models cloud the outlook for the coming remain financially healthy. Agency funds conventional vehicle fiscal year, we face tomorrow with renewed FY20 began with a strong backlog of emissions and fuel efficiency evaluations, confidence born of our successful response funding and contracts, and somewhat while we also advance electrified power- to the challenges of FY20. Our backlog is amazingly, it ended in much the same way. train technology. We continue programs at a record level, and our clients look forward to a return to full employment As the financial section of this report extending the service life of aging aircraft, and capacity. shows, our annual revenue and net income as our advanced signals intelligence were modestly higher than the previous equipment safeguards those who defend On a final note, near the close of the year, despite the tumultuous pandemic our country. Our intelligent traffic technol- fiscal year NASA approved final assembly environment that began in February and ogy is improving mobility and safety on of the spacecraft for the SwRI-led Lucy continued through the second half of the the highways and byways of our land. And mission, a 12-year voyage through the fiscal year. Our workforce admirably we are providing support for the develop- Solar System to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, going, again, where none have adjusted to new working conditions ment of new therapeutics and vaccines to gone before. and adapted operations for safety while protect humankind from COVID-19. finding new ways to support and In addition, while solving some of the communicate with our clients. most difficult technical problems, the SwRI This issue of our Annual Report team responded to the severe human highlights our response to the COVID-19 health and economic crisis generated by Adam L. Hamilton, P.E. crisis as well as the more traditional the pandemic with an outpouring of President & CEO 02 | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT IR&D 2020 As a nonprofit research and development organization, SwRI uses part of our net income to invest in tomorrow’s innovations, to broaden the Institute’s technology base and to encourage our staff’s professional growth. By funding internal research, we increase our technical capabilities, expand our reputation as a leader in science and technology and invest in technology our clients may need in the future. The program also allows engineers and scientists to continually grow in their technical fields by providing freedom to explore innovative and unproven concepts without contractual restrictions and expectations. IR&D is frequently cited as a key enabling factor leading to new projects, new clients and completely new research arenas within the Institute. D024186_4158 Using fluorescent dyes to distinguish the elements of an oil-water-gas fluid, In 2020, SwRI initiated 114 new projects, investing more engineers used video image analysis to determine the mixture density of the than $10 million in internal research, including quick-look and comingled fluid, to better understand the concentrations of multiphase flows. focused research programs. IR&D fulfills the Institute’s objective of conducting innovative activities for the benefit of industry, the government and humankind. To expand our expertise in cyber resilience, cybersecurity specialists worked with automotive engineers to investigate whether electric vehicles could be vulnerable to cyberattacks during the charging process. D024203_9879 | 03 MILESTONES 2020 Two Southwest Research Institute-developed technologies won 2020 HONORS R&D 100 Awards. The first addresses how military planes use electronic Dr. Robin Canup: Co-chair, Planetary Science 803 284 countermeasure defense (ECM) systems to thwart enemy radar and deny and Astrobiology Decadal Study for the targeting. SwRI developed the SPARTA system to evaluate ECM technologies, National Academies of Sciences, ensuring that they send the correct countersignal for a given radar cue. Engineering and Medicine
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Thrust Vector Control of an Upper-Stage Rocket with Multiple Propellant Slosh Modes
    Hindawi Publishing Corporation Mathematical Problems in Engineering Volume 2012, Article ID 848741, 18 pages doi:10.1155/2012/848741 Research Article Thrust Vector Control of an Upper-Stage Rocket with Multiple Propellant Slosh Modes Jaime Rubio Hervas and Mahmut Reyhanoglu Department of Physical Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA Correspondence should be addressed to Mahmut Reyhanoglu, [email protected] Received 24 May 2012; Revised 4 July 2012; Accepted 4 July 2012 Academic Editor: J. Rodellar Copyright q 2012 J. Rubio Hervas and M. Reyhanoglu. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The thrust vector control problem for an upper-stage rocket with propellant slosh dynamics is considered. The control inputs are defined by the gimbal deflection angle of a main engine and a pitching moment about the center of mass of the spacecraft. The rocket acceleration due to the main engine thrust is assumed to be large enough so that surface tension forces do not significantly affect the propellant motion during main engine burns. A multi-mass-spring model of the sloshing fuel is introduced to represent the prominent sloshing modes. A nonlinear feedback controller is designed to control the translational velocity vector and the attitude of the spacecraft, while suppressing the sloshing modes. The effectiveness of the controller is illustrated through a simulation example. 1. Introduction In fluid mechanics, liquid slosh refers to the movement of liquid inside an accelerating tank or container.
    [Show full text]
  • Prediction of Liquid Slosh Damping Using a High Resolution CFD Tool
    Prediction of Liquid Slosh Damping Using a High Resolution CFD Tool H. Q. Yang 1 CFD Research Corp., Huntsville, AL 35805 Ravi Purandare 2 EV31 NASA MSFC and John Peugeot 3 and Jeff West 4 ER42 NASA MSFC Propellant slosh is a potential source of disturbance critical to the stability of space vehicles. The slosh dynamics are typically represented by a mechanical model of a spring mass damper. This mechanical model is then included in the equation of motion of the entire vehicle for Guidance, Navigation and Control analysis. Our previous effort has demonstrated the soundness of a CFD approach in modeling the detailed fluid dynamics of tank slosh and the excellent accuracy in extracting mechanical properties (slosh natural frequency, slosh mass, and slosh mass center coordinates). For a practical partially-filled smooth wall propellant tank with a diameter of 1 meter, the damping ratio is as low as 0.0005 (or 0.05%). To accurately predict this very low damping value is a challenge for any CFD tool, as one must resolve a thin boundary layer near the wall and must minimize numerical damping. This work extends our previous effort to extract this challenging parameter from first principles: slosh damping for smooth wall and for ring baffle. First the experimental data correlated into the industry standard for smooth wall were used as the baseline validation. It is demonstrated that with proper grid resolution, CFD can indeed accurately predict low damping values from smooth walls for different tank sizes. The damping due to ring baffles at different depths from the free surface and for different sizes of tank was then simulated, and fairly good agreement with experimental correlation was observed.
    [Show full text]
  • A2) Microgravity Sciences Onboard the International Space Station and Beyond - Part 2 (7
    64th International Astronautical Congress 2013 Paper ID: 19547 oral MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES AND PROCESSES SYMPOSIUM (A2) Microgravity Sciences Onboard the International Space Station and Beyond - Part 2 (7) Author: Mr. Sunil Chintalapati Florida Institute of Technology, United States, chintals@fit.edu Mr. Charles Holicker Florida Institute of Technology, United States, cholicke@my.fit.edu Mr. Richard Schulman Florida Institute of Technology, United States, RSchulman2008@my.fit.edu Mr. Brian Wise Florida Institute of Technology, United States, bwise@my.fit.edu Mr. Gabriel Lapilli United States, glapilli2009@my.fit.edu Dr. Hector Gutierrez Florida Institute of Technology, United States, hgutier@fit.edu Dr. Daniel Kirk Florida Institute of Technology, United States, dkirk@fit.edu EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF LIQUID SLOSH DYNAMICS ON GROUND AND MICROGRAVITY PLATFORMS Abstract The slosh dynamics in cryogenic fuel tanks under microgravity is a problem that severely affects the reliability of spacecraft launching. To date, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models which examine low-gravity slosh, as well as the dynamics of fluid-structure coupling during slosh events, have not been benchmarked against experimental data. Experimental measurements of slosh are made using a variety of platforms, including ground-based testing and parabolic flights. It is proposed that the 3-D rigid body acceleration of the tank relative to an inertial frame, along with the initial liquid distribution and tank geometry, uniquely determines a slosh event. A slosh event is completely described by the rigid body acceleration of the tank, and a set of orthogonal images. The proposed hypothesis is validated by CFD models. Both the tank's predicted acceleration and images of the liquid profile are used to assess the ability of the proposed approach to correctly predict a slosh event.
    [Show full text]
  • Method for CFD Simulation of Propellant Slosh in a Spherical Tank
    Method for CFD Simulation of Propellant Slosh in a Spherical Tank David J. Benson 1 and Paul A. Mason2 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Greenbelt. MD. 2077 J Propellant sloshing can impart unwanted disturbances to spacecraft, especially if the spacecraft controller is driving the system at the slosh frequency. This paper describes the work performed by the authors in simulating propellant slosh in a spherical tank using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). ANSYS-CFX is the CFD package used to perform the analysis. A 42 in spherical tank is studied with various fill fractions. Results are provided for the forces on the walls and the frequency of the slosh. Snapshots of slosh animation give a qualitative understanding of the propellant slosh. The results show that maximum slosh forces occur at a tank fill fraction of 0.4 and 0.6 due to the amount of mass participating in the slosh and the room available for sloshing to occur. The slosh frequency increases as the tank fill fraction increases. I. Introduction LOSH behavior is observed when a bucket of water is carried from one location to another. As the person Scarrying the bucket walks, the back and forth the motion of the person's hand motion causes the water to move back and forth in the bucket (slosh). When the bucket is set down, the water continues to slosh back and forth within the bucket and the forces exerted on the bucket walls cause the bucket to rock back and forth or shake. This same phenomenon occurs with a spacecraft's propellant when maneuvers are performed in space.
    [Show full text]
  • Space Is Open for Business
    Rocket Lab USA SPACE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS Investor Presentation July 2021 rocketlabusa.com FROM THE FOUNDER Space has defined some of humanity’s greatest achievements, and it continues to shape our future. I’m motivated by the enormous impact we can have on Earth by making it easier to get to space and to use it as a platform for innovation, exploration, and infrastructure. We go to space to improve life on Earth.” Peter J. Beck Founder, CEO, Chief Engineer, Adjunct Professor 2 Rocket Lab USA DISCLAIMER AND FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This presentation (this “Presentation”) was from the forward-looking statements in the owners of such trademarks, copyrights, represents Rocket Lab’s future operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures. The financial relevant documents filed or that will be filed prepared for informational purposes only this presentation, including but not limited logos and other intellectual property. Solely or financial conditions. Such information information and data contained in this with the SEC in connection with the proposed to assist interested parties in making their to: (i) the risk that the Transaction may not for convenience, trademarks and trade is subject to a wide variety of significant Presentation is unaudited and does not transaction as they become available because own evaluation of the proposed transaction be completed in a timely manner or at all, names referred to in this Presentation may business, economic and competitive risks conform to Regulation S-X promulgated they will contain important information about (the “Transaction”) between Vector which may adversely affect the price of appear with the ® or ™ symbols, but such and uncertainties, including but not limited under the Securities Act of 1933, as the proposed transaction.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigation of Propellant Sloshing and Zero Gravity Equilibrium for the Orion Service Module Propellant Tanks
    Investigation of Propellant Sloshing and Zero Gravity Equilibrium for the Orion Service Module Propellant Tanks Amber Bakkum1,KimberlySchultz1, Jonathan Braun2, Kevin M Crosby1, Stephanie Finnvik1, Isa Fritz1, Bradley Frye1,CeciliaGrove1, Katelyn Hartstern1, Samantha Kreppel1 and Emily Schiavone1 1Department of Physics, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI 2Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Houston, TX August 15, 2010 Abstract We study fluid slosh in the Orion Service Module propellant tanks. Resonant slosh frequencies were measured as a function of tank fill-fraction in a scaled model of the tanks. We carry out both computational and theoretical calculations of resonant slosh frequencies, and find reasonable agreement between experiment and prediction. We measured fluid slosh in 2 g,1 g, Martian gravity (1/3 g) and lunar gravity − − − (1/6 g). Using the software FLOW-3D, we established free-surface configurations − in zero gravity of both the model and the full scale Orion SM tank. In addition, we measured formation times of the equilibrium free surface configuration. FLOW-3D calculations suggest that the zero-g free surface configuration consists of two separated fluid volumes. 1 Introduction In fluid dynamics, slosh refers to the movement of liquid inside a hollow object. Slosh control of propellant is a significant challenge to spacecraft stability. Mission failure has been attributed to slosh-induced instabilities in several cases [Robinson,1964], [Wade, 2010], [Space Exploration Technologies Corp., 2007]. While propellant masses are highest
    [Show full text]
  • Nutation in the Spinning SPHERES Spacecraft And
    Nutation in the Spinning SPHERES Spacecraft and Fluid Slosh by Caley Ann Burke Submitted to the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY June 2010 © Caley Ann Burke 2010. All rights reserved. Author . Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics May 21, 2010 Certified by. David W. Miller Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Thesis Supervisor Accepted by . Prof. Eytan H. Modiano Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Chair, Committee on Graduate Students 2 Nutation in the Spinning SPHERES Spacecraft and Fluid Slosh by Caley Ann Burke Submitted to the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics on May 21, 2010 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics Abstract Spacecraft today are often spin-stabilized during a portion their launch or mission. Though the basics of spin stabilization are well understood, there remains uncertainty in predicting the likelihood of rapid nutation growth due to onboard liquids. Solely analytical methods of prediction are mainly unsuccessful and physical tests to gather slosh data have only been done for a few specific spacecraft. Data from past spacecraft is subject to a number complex physical factors and anomalies during the launch or mission. This study verifies a ground based method to test fluid tanks horizontally and obtain the first fundamental frequency of the tank. Horizontal tanks have the gravitational acceleration vector applied in the same direction as the acceleration experienced by an offset tank on a spinning spacecraft.
    [Show full text]
  • Propellant Slosh in the Orion Service Module
    Propellant Slosh in the Orion Service Module Kimberly Schultz, Amber Bakkum, Kevin Crosby & Carthage Microgravity Team Carthage College Department of Physics August 2010 Introduction Methods Results & Analysis We carried out experimental, theoretical, and computational investigations A Linear Slosh Analysis examines the lowest resonant slosh frequencies In fluid dynamics, slosh refers to the movement of liquid inside a hollow of slosh dynamics: present in the tank. Anti-symmetric slosh frequencies are shown in Fig. 6 object. We examine these dynamics in a scale-model of the Orion Service for a range of fill fractions (ratio of fluid surface height h to tank radius R). Module (SM) down-stream hydrazine propellant tank. The SM is a Experimental Methods Solid lines in Fig. 6 are predicted curves derived from velocity flow component of the Orion crew lunar return vehicle, and part of NASA’s • Through the NASA Systems Engineering Educational Discovery (SEED) potential theory. Constellation Program (Fig. 1). Program, our model tank was flown on a zero-gravity aircraft to simulate a zero-g environment, shown in Fig. 3. Given that a substantial portion of the initial weight of the SM is fuel, • A linear slosh analysis was carried out using video data collected via understanding the fluid dynamics in the SM tanks is critical [1]. Our three mini DV cameras and correlated with accelerometer data. research goal is to validate computational models produced by Lockheed Martin for propellant slosh during spacecraft maneuvers. Crew (CM) Module • SM supports CM from launch through separation • SM Maneuvers Orion to Service Module (SM) the ISS or Lunar orbit and back Figure 6: Lowest anti-symmetric slosh-mode frequencies plotted against tank fill-fraction.
    [Show full text]
  • Modeling and Parameter Estimation of Spacecraft Lateral Fuel Slosh
    Theses - Daytona Beach Dissertations and Theses 9-2008 Modeling and Parameter Estimation of Spacecraft Lateral Fuel Slosh Yadira Rodriguez Chatman Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses Part of the Aerospace Engineering Commons Scholarly Commons Citation Chatman, Yadira Rodriguez, "Modeling and Parameter Estimation of Spacecraft Lateral Fuel Slosh" (2008). Theses - Daytona Beach. 28. https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/28 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach at ERAU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in the Theses - Daytona Beach collection by an authorized administrator of ERAU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MODELING AND PARAMETER ESTIMATION OF SPACECRAFT LATERAL FUEL SLOSH By Yadira Rodriguez Chatman A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Studies Office In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, Florida September 2008 UMI Number: EP32012 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations" and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI® UMI Microform EP32012 Copyright 2011 by ProQuest LLC All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code.
    [Show full text]
  • Propellant Slosh Analysis for the Solar Dynamics Observatory Paul A
    I!, 9 Propellant Slosh Analysis for the Solar Dynamics Observatory Paul A. C. Mason and Scott R. Starin Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 595, Greenbelt, AID, 20771 ABSTRACT The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission, part of the Living With a Star program, is a geosynchronous satellite with tight pointing requirements. Due to a large amount of liquid propellant, a detailed slosh analysis is required to ensure the tight pointing budget can be satisfied. Much of the high fidelity slosh analysis and simulation has been performed via computational fluid dynamics. Even though this method of simulation is very accurate, it requires significant computational effort and specialized knowledge, limiting the ability of the SDO project to access fluid dynamics simulations at will. Furthermore, it is very difficult to incorporate most of these models into simulations of the overall spacecraft and its environment. Ultimately, the effects of the propellant slosh on the attitude stability and pointing performance of the entire spacecraft are of great interest to attitude control engineers. Equivalent mechanical models, such as models that approximate the fluid slosh effects by analogy to the movements of a point-mass pendulum, are important tools in simulating propellant slosh dynamics as part of the entire attitude determination and control system. This paper describes some of the current methods used to analyze and model slosh. It focuses on equivalent mechanical models and their incorporation into control-based analysis tools such as Simulink. The SDO mission is used as the case study for this work. INTRODUCTION SDO Overview The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a large 2894 kg Sun-pointing geosynchronous satellite.
    [Show full text]
  • Slosh Dynamics Study in Near Zero Gravity
    ~ NASA TECHNICAL NOTE NASA TN D-3985 00- N - (THRU) / GPO PRICE $ CFSTI PRICE(S) $ A Hard copy (HC) SLOSH DYNAMICS STUDY Microfiche (MF) IN NEAR ZERO GRAVITY ff 653 July 65 DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE AND SPACECRAFT by Hurold Gold, Juck G. McArdZe, and Donald A. Petrash Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D. C. MAY 1967 r NASA TN D-3985 SLOSH DYNAMICS STUDY IN NEAR ZERO GRAVITY DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE AND SPACECRAFT By Harold Gold, Jack G. McArdle, and Donald A. Petrash Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION For sole by the Cleoringhouse for Federol Scientific and Technical Information Springfield, Virginia 22151 - CFSTI price $3.00 SLOSH DYNAMICS STUDY IN NEAR ZERO GRAVITY - DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE AND SPACECRAFT by Harold Gold, Jack G. McArdle, and Donald A. Petrash Lewis Research Center SUMMARY A spacecraft carrying a 22-inch-diameter, 44-inch-long transparent tank equipped with a slosh baffle and partially filled with alcohol was flown into a ballistic trajectory on June 7, 1966, by the two-stage WASP (Weightlessness Analysis Sounding Probe) rocket. In free flight the spacecraft was rate-stabilized by a proportional gas-jet system. Thrusts were provided that established 6.5~lO-~-and 7.3~10-~-gacceleration along the longitudinal axis of the tank and a lateral acceleration of g for periods of a few seconds (to induce sloshing of the alcohol within the tank). The spacecraft carried a television system for observation of the alcohol motion. The damping induced by the slosh baffle was sufficient to damp slosh in less than one-quarter cycle at both longi- tudinal accelerations.
    [Show full text]
  • Slosh Baffle Design and Test for Spherical Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Methane Propellant Tank for a Lander
    Slosh Baffle Design and Test for Spherical Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Methane Propellant Tank for a Lander Alan Strahan NASA Johnson Space Center Humberto Hernandez NASA Johnson Space Center Abstract A Vertical Test Bed (VTB) is being developed to investigate exploration technologies with earth-based landing trajectories. During this activity, a concern emerged that the VTB, with large liquid tanks, could experience unstable slosh interaction between the propellant fluid motion and the control system, leading to an investigation of slosh characteristics of the VTB. As such, slosh modeling, analysis and testing were performed, that both verified models and lead to the conclusion that baffles would be required for the full-scale vehicle. Follow-on design and testing supported development of these baffles and measurement of their performance. The majority of the tests conducted, including both subscale and full, involved the use of clear tanks containing water as a reasonable substitute for the cryogenic propellants, though a few tests involved the actual liquid oxygen and methane. Along the way, some unique test and data recording methods were employed to reduce testing complexity and cost. Introduction The NASA Johnson Space Center is developing a modest size rocket powered Vertical Test Bed (VTB), entitled Project Morpheus, to support the investigation and development of various exploration and planetary landing related technologies while flying in a more accessible and inexpensive terrestrial environment. Some of these technologies include autonomous surface hazard avoidance sensors, new tank design concepts and the use of alternative propellants, such as liquid oxygen and methane. In addition the project is providing an opportunity for NASA engineers to develop new concepts and follow them through manufacture, testing and flight, fostering skills to support future exploration initiatives.
    [Show full text]