V/STOL aircraft and fluid dynamics

The impact of military applications on rotorcraft and V/STOL aircraft design is summarized with respect to fixed-wing aircraft. The influence of the mission needs on the configurational design of V/STOL aircraft, the implications regarding some problems in fluid dynamics relating to propulsive flows, and their interaction with the aircraft and the ground plane, are also considered. Additional research in fluid dynamics that can contribute to an improvement in performance of V/STOL aircraft is suggested

I-V-T analysis of radiation damage in high efficiency Si solar cells

A detailed analysis of current-voltage characteristics of N(+)-P/P solar cells indicate that there is a combination of different mechanisms which results in an enhancement in the dark current and in turn deteriorates the photovoltaic performance of the solar cells after 1 MeV e(-) irradiation. The increase in the dark current is due to three effects, i.e., bulk recombination, space charge recombination by deep traps and space charge recombination through shallow traps. It is shown that the increase in bulk recombination current is about 2 to 3 orders of magnitude whereas space charge recombination current due to shallow traps increases only by an order or so and no space charge recombination through deep traps was observed after irradiation. Thus, in order to improve the radiation hardness of these devices, bulk properties should be preserved

Efficiency analysis of reaction rate calculation methods using analytical models I: The 2D sharp barrier

We analyze the efficiency of different methods for the calculation of reaction rates in the case of two simple analytical benchmark systems. Two classes of methods are considered: the first are based on the free energy calculation along a reaction coordinate and the calculation of the transmission coefficient, the second on the sampling of dynamical pathways. We give scaling rules for how this efficiency depends on barrier height and width, and we hand out simple optimization rules for the method-specific parameters. We show that the path sampling methods, using the transition interface sampling technique, become exceedingly more efficient than the others when the reaction coordinate is not the optimal one.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure

V/STOL maneuverability and control

Maneuverability and control of V/STOL aircraft in powered-lift flight is studied with specific considerations of maneuvering in forward flight. A review of maneuverability for representative operational mission tasks is presented and covers takeoff, transition, hover, and landing flight phases. Maneuverability is described in terms of the ability to rotate and translate the aircraft and is specified in terms of angular and translational accelerations imposed on the aircraft. Characteristics of representative configurations are reviewed, including experience from past programs and expectations for future designs. The review of control covers the characteristics inherent in the basic airframe and propulsion system and the behavior associated with ontrol augmentation systems. Demands for augmented stability and control response to meet certain mission operational requirements are discussed. Experience from ground-based simulation and flight experiments that illustrates the impact of augmented stability and control on aircraft design is related by example

Influence of design variables on radiation hardness of silicon MINP solar cells

Metal-insulator-N/P silicon (MINP) solar cells were fabricated using different substrate resistivity values, different N-layer designs, and different I-layer designs. A shallow junction into an 0.3 ohm-cm substrate gave best efficiency whereas a deeper junction into a 1 to 4 ohm-cm substrate gave improved radiation hardness. I-layer design variation did little to influence radiation hardness

Structural analyses for the modification and verification of the Viking aeroshell

The Viking aeroshell is an extremely lightweight flexible shell structure that has undergone thorough buckling analyses in the course of its development. The analytical tools and modeling technique required to reveal the structural behavior are presented. Significant results are given which illustrate the complex failure modes not usually observed in simple models and analyses. Both shell-of-revolution analysis for the pressure loads and thermal loads during entry and a general shell analysis for concentrated tank loads during launch were used. In many cases fixes or alterations to the structure were required, and the role of the analytical results in determining these modifications is indicated

Historical overview of V/STOL aircraft technology

The requirements for satisfactory characteristics in several key technology areas are discussed and a review is made of various V/STOL aircraft for the purpose of assessing the success or failure of each design in meeting design requirements. Special operating techniques were developed to help circumvent deficiencies. For the most part performance and handling qualities limitations restricted operational evaluations. Flight operations emphasized the need for good STOL performance, good handling qualities, and stability and control augmentation. The majority of aircraft suffered adverse ground effects

CO adsorption on (111) and (100) surfaces of the Pt sub 3 Ti alloy. Evidence for parallel binding and strong activation of CO

The CO adsorption on a 40 atom cluster model of the (111) surface and a 36 atom cluster model of the (100) surface of the Pt3Ti alloy was studied. Parallel binding to high coordinate sites associated with Ti and low CO bond scission barriers are predicted for both surfaces. The binding of CO to Pt sites occurs in an upright orientation. These orientations are a consequence of the nature of the CO pi donation interactions with the surface. On the Ti sites the orbitals donate to the nearly empty Ti 3d band and the antibonding counterpart orbitals are empty. On the Pt sites, however, they are in the filled Pt 5d region of the alloy band, which causes CO to bond in a vertical orientation by 5 delta donation from the carbon end

Scanning mirror for infrared sensors

A high resolution, long life angle-encoded scanning mirror, built for application in an infrared attitude sensor, is described. The mirror uses a Moire' fringe type optical encoder and unique torsion bar suspension together with a magnetic drive to meet stringent operational and environmental requirements at a minimum weight and with minimum power consumption. Details of the specifications, design, and construction are presented with an analysis of the mirror suspension that allows accurate prediction of performance. The emphasis is on mechanical design considerations, and brief discussions are included on the encoder and magnetic drive to provide a complete view of the mirror system and its capabilities