Comparison of the solar sail with electric propulsion systems

The propulsive efficiencies of the solar sail and of electric propulsion systems are compared on the basis of specific impulse. It is shown that the solar sail is more efficient at one a.u. for mission durations greater than about two months, that the advantage is increased for missions toward the inner planets, and that the same conclusions are reached when the comparison is based on maximizing the momentum transferred to the payload. Other factors that will influence the choice of a propulsion system for a specific mission are mentioned

NASTRAN cyclic symmetry capability

A development for NASTRAN which facilitates the analysis of structures made up of identical segments symmetrically arranged with respect to an axis is described. The key operation in the method is the transformation of the degrees of freedom for the structure into uncoupled symmetrical components, thereby greatly reducing the number of equations which are solved simultaneously. A further reduction occurs if each segment has a plane of reflective symmetry. The only required assumption is that the problem be linear. The capability, as developed, will be available in level 16 of NASTRAN for static stress analysis, steady state heat transfer analysis, and vibration analysis. The paper includes a discussion of the theory, a brief description of the data supplied by the user, and the results obtained for two example problems. The first problem concerns the acoustic modes of a long prismatic cavity imbedded in the propellant grain of a solid rocket motor. The second problem involves the deformations of a large space antenna. The latter example is the first application of the NASTRAN Cyclic Symmetry capability to a really large problem

The planning and design of mental health treatment centres

This research thesis was developed as a planning and design reference for mental health treatment centres. This text is intended to assist planners, designers, and health practitioners to optimize patient health and comfort by providing suitable environments to facilitate care and treatment. This thesis examines and provides guidance on security issues, environmental design, the cognitive environment, and site development. Sample facility plans are also provided to demonstrate the design principles advocated. The foreword examines the historical background of mental health treatment facilities in relation to the context of care. The continuing problem of the alienating and dehumanizing effects of psychiatric hospitals on patients is also addressed. Security requirements are investigated in relation to patients' rights and personal needs. This text also examines related fire safety requirements and design measures to minimize the risks of suicides, self injuries, and assaults. Environmental design issues, including lighting, color, acoustics, construction materials, air quality, and spatial relationships, are examined in relation to mental and physical health. Cognitive issues such as wayfinding, mental maps, symbolism, and perceptions of physical environments and architectural design are explored in relation to mental health treatment facilities. Earlier research suggests that patients have difficulty making the cognitive adjustment to typical mental health treatment facilities, and this can negatively effect their therapy and potential recovery. An illustrated questionnaire was developed to help determine the types of facilities patients can relate to and experience relative comfort. This questionnaire was used to examine perceptions of buildings and designs in relation to the provision of comfortable and healthy environments. The survey revealed that patients, health care providers, and students shared similar perceptions of the built environment, and that buildings possessing features generally associated with domestic buildings (houses) were considered more comfortable than other building types. In particular, buildings with pitched roofs and brick exteriors were considered most suggestive of comfort. Horizontal windows were preferred to more common vertically oriented windows. This effect was more pronounced when windows framed a pleasant natural view. Curved interior forms were also found to be suggestive of comfort. Past, current, and emerging patterns of site and facility development are reviewed in association with their environmental context. The role of nature in the healing process, from ancient Greece to recent discoveries, is also examined. The final chapter of this thesis is a demonstration of design principles with annotated drawings of a hypothetical inpatient unit and outpatient clinic. These drawings are provided to demonstrate an integration of thesis findings and design principles. These drawings are not a definitive design or prototype, because every site and building program are different and require their own design solution

Considerations in the design of large space structures

Several analytical studies of topics relevant to the design of large space structures are presented. Topics covered are: the types and quantitative evaluation of the disturbances to which large Earth-oriented microwave reflectors would be subjected and the resulting attitude errors of such spacecraft; the influence of errors in the structural geometry of the performance of radiofrequency antennas; the effect of creasing on the flatness of tensioned reflector membrane surface; and an analysis of the statistics of damage to truss-type structures due to meteoroids

Wall structure changes in low-loss magnetic bubble materials

Transitions between underdamped and overdamped radial motion in magnetic bubble domains are investigated in a low-loss rare-earth garnet material. Three distinct types of domain wall structures, which are present during underdamped motion, have been identified. Bubble walls were subjected to a bias field pulse (H) and tested for underdamped motion sometime (τ) later. The first type of structure follows the form H = H' exp (τ\τ_0), with 170 nsec < τ_0 < 270 nsec for the first transition, and is not statically stable. Transitions associated with the second type are characterized by a constant critical angle Ψ_c between the magnetization in the middle of the wall, and the plane of the wall. For the first transition, Ψ_c = 230°, and for the second, Ψ_c = 370°. These structures are statically stable. The third type of structure is not statically stable, and H is independent of τ. The first and second wall structure types are associated with multiple transitions while the third only exhibits a single transition

Modelling strain distributions in ion-implanted magnetic bubble materials

The detailed properties of strain distributions in Ne+, B+, and He+ implanted magnetic bubble garnet materials are accounted for by calculating the nuclear energy loss as a function of depth. The calculation is based on stopped ion distributions for ZnS, with suitable corrections made for differences in material density. The constant of proportionality K between strain and nuclear energy loss, and the density ratio l are determined for each ion by comparing calculated strain distributions with experimental results obtained previously using an x-ray diffraction technique. It is found that K is roughly the same for all three ions, 0.016±0.003 (eV/Å3)^−1, and that the average value l = 0.79±0.08 is consistent with the actual density ratio l = 0.72. Good agreement is found in additional examples of both single and multiple implants (±10% relative error). Finally, a procedure for selecting the incident energies and dosages required to produce a uniformly strained layer for bubble device applications is described, and then demonstrated by achieving a 0.4-um-thick layer with (1.07±0.09)% strain, using a double B+ implant