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Rizzi, A. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Rizzi, A. W..

Steady supersonic flowfields with embedded subsonic regions

Supersonic flow past a blunt body is considered, where the flow contains an embedded subsonic region which lies between the shock wave and the body surface and is bounded by sonic lines from the body to the shock. A numerical approach is taken, which uses a basic finite difference scheme that solves the unsteady fluid dynamic equations in integral form. The unsteady equations are everywhere hyperbolic in time so no distinction need be made between subsonic and supersonic regions. Solutions to the mixed elliptic and hyperbolic steady flow equations are approached asymptotically in time. The method is illustrated for two-dimensional flows.

Maccormack, R. W.↗

A generalized hyperbolic marching method for chemically reacting 3-D supersonic flow using a splitting technique

A generalized hyperbolic marching method employing a nonorthogonal coordinate system and using a split differencing scheme for calculating steady supersonic flow over aerodynamic shapes is presented. It is a second-order-accurate mixed explicit-implicit procedure that solves the inviscid adiabatic and nondiffusive equations for chemically reacting flow in integral conservation-law form. The relationship between the integral and differential forms of the equations are examined and the relative merits of each discussed. The method admits initial Cauchy data situated on any arbitrary surface and integrates them forward along a general curvilinear coordinate, distorting and deforming the surface as it advances. The chemical kinetics term is split from the convective terms which are themselves dimensionally split, thereby freeing the fluid operators from the restricted step-size imposed by the chemical reactions and increasing the computational efficiency. The accuracy of this splitting technique is analyzed, a sufficient stability criterion is established, and comparisons are made with another method.

Rizzi, A. W.↗

A generalized hyperbolic marching technique for three-dimensional supersonic flow with shocks

The current paper introduces a generalized, nonorthogonal coordinate system for application to supersonic flows with such large angles between streamlines of the initial Cauchy data and the marching direction that the velocity component in the marching direction is actually subsonic. Finite-difference operators are developed to solve the three-dimensional, steady, inviscid conservation equations of fluid flow referenced to this general frame. Moreover, a new method of aligning the difference mesh to the bow shock wave is presented which eliminates both the necessity for differencing the free-stream flow properties and the spurious fluctuations that often arise in conservative variables when they are differenced across the discontinuity. Results are given for the case of flow past a conical surface.

Rizzi, A. W.↗

Aligned magnetohydrodynamic solution for solar wind flow past the earth's magnetosphere

Exact numerical solutions of the MHD equations for a perfect dissipationless gas with aligned magnetic field are given for conditions representative of steady supersonic solar wind flow past an axisymmetric model of the earth's magnetosphere. The solution is based on use of a transformation that relates without approximation the equations of magnetohydrodynamics to those of gasdynamics of a pseudogas that has an unusual equation of state. The results confirm the applicability of the previously existing gasdynamic solutions for the typically modest intensities of the interplanetary magnetic field that lead to Alfven Mach numbers of about 10 or greater. For smaller values, however, significant effects are indicated with the flanks of the bow wave moving away from the earth and the nose moving toward the earth. The results are consistent with direct observations in space.

Spreiter, J. R.↗

Interplanetary space - A new laboratory for rarefied gas dynamics

Interplanetary space provides simultaneously the best vacuum available to man and, because of the solar wind, a tenuous and unsteady high-speed outflow of predominantly hydrogen gas from the sun, a remarkable variety of rarefied gasdynamics phenomena to observe. This paper provides a review of these phenomena, and of the way in which the present level of understanding has been achieved.

Spreiter, J. R.↗

Time-split finite-volume method for three-dimensional blunt-body flow

An efficient numerical method for calculating plane, axisymmetric, and fully three-dimensional blunt-body flow is presented. It is a second-order-accurate, time-dependent finite-volume procedure that solves the Euler equations in integral conservation-law form. These equations are written with respect to a Cartesian coordinate system in which an embedded mesh adjusts in time to the motion of the bow shock that is automatically captured as part of the weak solution. With such an adjusting mesh, oscillations in flow properties near the shock are shown to be virtually eliminated. The scheme uses a time-splitting concept that accelerates the convergence appreciably. Comparisons are made between computed and experimental results.

Rizzi, A. W.↗

Interaction of the solar wind with the outer planets.

The hypersonic analog for the interaction of the solar wind with Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto is used to provide estimates of shock shapes and locations, as well as average magnetosheath and/or ionosheath properties for these planets. Several representative spacecraft flyby trajectories (designed for outer-planet 'Grand Tour' simulations) are superimposed upon a series of figures in order to provide estimates of potential plasma and field parameters which may be encountered. Consideration is given first to the possibility that several of these planets have intrinsic magnetic fields and, secondly, to the interaction of the solar wind directly on the ionosphere should there actually be no intrinsic field. Saturn and Pluto are chosen as examples of this latter case.

Dryer, M.↗

The Martian bow wave - Theory and observation.

Refinement of the relationship between the trajectory of Mariner 4 in its fly-by of Mars and the calculated location of a proposed Martian bow arising from interaction of the solar wind and the ionosphere by inclusion of aberration effects of the planet's motion about the sun. The modified theory indicates that the bow wave was crossed twice during a three-hour interval following the time of closest approach of Mariner 4 to Mars, instead of being missed slightly by the spacecraft as indicated in a previous paper in which the theory of this interaction was presented, and the solar wind was considered, for simplicity, to flow along the sun-Mars line. It is shown that the observed magnetic field changed abruptly at virtually the precise times of the shock crossings indicated by the theory. Although malfunction of the plasma probe prevents observational confirmation of these as shock crossings, this coincidence supports the recent suggestion of the magnetometer experimenters that a bow wave may have been traversed. It also supports the interpretation that the bow wave results from interaction of the solar wind with the ionosphere, and not with a weak planetary magnetic field.

Spreiter, J. R.↗