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Hurlbut, F. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Hurlbut, F. C..

Electron beam flourescence measurements in low density free jets of heated nitrogen

Rotational temperatures have been measured in heated free jet expansions of low density nitrogen using the electron beam flourescence technique. Spectroscopic measurements of the (0,0) band of the first negative system of nitrogen revealed the rotational nonequilibrium behavior in the flow field upstream of and through the Mach disk, as well as the flow field farther downstream. These results are compared to free jet expansion data and computations regarding Mach disk location and terminal rotational temperature. Comparisons indicate a rotational relaxation-collision number of about 3. Both measurements and calculations show that these flow fields are generated from stagnation conditions of 240 to 475 Torr-mm and 700 to 1325 K. Results are also presented for shock thickness based on rotational temperature.

Gochberg, L. A.

Lunar soil properties and soil mechanics. Flow in porous media under rarefied gas conditions. Research phase: Fluid conductivity of lunar surface materials

Theoretical and experimental research on fluid conductivity of lunar surface materials is summarized. Theoretical methods were developed for the analysis of transitional and free-molecular flows, and for analysis of lunar permeability probe data in general. Experimental studies of rarefied flows under conditions of a large pressure gradient show flows in the continuum regime to be responsible for the largest portion of the pressure drop between source and sink for one dimensional flow, provided the entrance Knudsen number is sufficiently small. The concept of local similarity leading to a universal nondimensional function of Knudsen number was shown to have approximate validity; flows in all regimes may be described in terms of an area fraction and a single length parameter. Synthetic porous media prepared from glass beads exhibited flow behavior similar in many regards to that of a natural sandstone; studies using artificial stones with known pore configurations may lead to new insight concerning the structure of natural materials. The experimental method involving the use of segmented specimens of large permeability is shown to be fruitful.

Hurlbut, F. C.

Lunar surface engineering properties experiment definition

Research on the mechanics of lunar soils and on developing probes to determine the properties of lunar surface materials is summarized. The areas of investigation include the following: soil simulation, soil property determination using an impact penetrometer, soil stabilization using urethane foam or phenolic resin, effects of rolling boulders down lunar slopes, design of borehole jack and its use in determining failure mechanisms and properties of rocks, and development of a permeability probe for measuring fluid flow through porous lunar surface materials.

Mitchell, J. K.