Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Strong interaction”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10

Imaging quantum melting in a disordered 2D Wigner solid

Two-dimensional strongly interacting electrons crystalize into a solid phase known as the Wigner crystal at low densities and form a Fermi liquid at high densities. At intermediate densities, the two-dimensional solid evolves into a strongly correlated liquid phase around a critical density. We observed this quantum melting of a disordered Wigner solid in bilayer molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) using a noninvasive scanning tunneling microscopy imaging technique. At low densities, the Wigner solid forms nanocrystalline domains pinned by local disorder. It exhibits a quantum densification behavior with increased densities in the solid phase. Above a threshold density, the Wigner solid melts locally and enters a mixed phase in which solid and liquid regions coexist. The liquid regions expand and form a percolation network at even higher densities.

Xiang, Ziyu↗

Multiplicity and net-electric charge fluctuations in central Ar+Sc interactions at 13 A , 19 A , 30 A , 40 A , 75 A , and 150 A GeV/c beam momenta measured by NA61/SHINE at the CERN SPS

This paper presents results on multiplicity fluctuations of positively and negatively charged hadrons as well as net-electric charge fluctuations measured in central Ar+Sc interactions at beam momenta 13 A , 19 A , 30 A , 40 A , 75 A , and 150 A GeV/c. The fluctuation analysis is one of the tools to search for the predicted critical point of strongly interacting matter. Results are corrected for the experimental biases and quantified using cumulant ratios. In most instances, multiplicity and net-charge distributions appear narrower than the corresponding Poisson or Skellam distributions. Cumulant ratios are compared with the EPOS1.99 model predictions, which provide a qualitative description that aligns with observations for positively and negatively charged particles. The obtained results are also compared to earlier NA61/SHINE results from inelastic p+p interactions in the same analysis acceptance.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Emergence of Complex Modes in Lightly Damped Structural Systems

In this short presentation format, we will provide a set of useful equations, relationships, and physical interpretations direct from the damped two-mode interaction problem. We will demonstrate that the results from the two-mode interaction problem are in direct agreement with observed test data. Practical methods for estimating the parameters driving the relations direct from modal test data are provided. We finalize with two examples demonstrating weak and strong interactions.

spaceflight hardware↗

Hybrid approach to steady transonic normal-shock compressible laminar boundary-layer interactions over airfoils

A simulation of steady transonic viscous-inviscid interactions through a combination of zonal solution methods (involving different equation sets and numerical regions for various flow regions) is used in an investigation of a fluid mechanics problem in which the pressure distribution is determined by the interaction between transonic inviscid flow and an inner laminar viscous layer. The results obtained are in good agreement with laminar experimental data. Both attached and separated boundary layer flows are considered for either weak or strong interactions.

Ram, R. B.↗

Some topics in the magnetohydrodynamics of accreting magnetic compact objects

Magnetic compact objects (neutron stars or white dwarfs) are currently thought to be present in many accreting systems that are releasing large amounts of energy. The magnetic field of the compact star may interact strongly with the accretion flow and play an essential role in the physics of these systems. Some magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) problems that are likely to be relevant in building up self-consistent models of the interaction between the accreting plasma and the star's magnetosphere are addressed in this series of lectures. The basic principles of MHD are first introduced and some important MHD mechanisms (Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities; reconnection) are discussed, with particular reference to their role in allowing the infalling matter to penetrate the magnetosphere and mix with the field. The structure of a force-free magnetosphere and the possibility of quasistatic momentum and energy transfer between regions linked by field-aligned currents are then studied in some detail. Finally, the structure of axisymmetric accretion flows onto magnetic compact objects is considered.

Aly, J. J.↗

Optical and ultraviolet spectroscopy of three F + B binary stars

Optical and ultraviolet spectroscopy is presented for three F + B objects that are members of the first group of strongly interacting, F II + B systems. The data obtained confirm that HD 59771, HD 242257, and CoD -30 5135 are all binary star systems consisting of a luminous F-type component and a B star. Strong, variable H-alpha emission is seen in all the stars. It is found that the UV spectrum of HD 59771 resembles the spectrum of HD 207739. CoD -30 5135 has the most dramatic mid-UV spectrum seen among the scores of observed cool + hot star systems.

Bopp, Bernard W.↗

Supersonic shock wave/vortex interaction

Although shock wave/vortex interaction is a basic and important fluid dynamics problem, very little research has been conducted on this topic. Therefore, a detailed experimental study of the interaction between a supersonic streamwise turbulent vortex and a shock wave was carried out at the Penn State Gas Dynamics Laboratory. A vortex is produced by replaceable swirl vanes located upstream of the throat of various converging-diverging nozzles. The supersonic vortex is then injected into either a coflowing supersonic stream or ambient air. The structure of the isolated vortex is investigated in a supersonic wind tunnel using miniature, fast-response, five-hole and total temperature probes and in a free jet using laser Doppler velocimetry. The cases tested have unit Reynolds numbers in excess of 25 million per meter, axial Mach numbers ranging from 2.5 to 4.0, and peak tangential Mach numbers from 0 (i.e., a pure jet) to about 0.7. The results show that the typical supersonic wake-like vortex consists of a non-isentropic, rotational core, where the reduced circulation distribution is self similar, and an outer isentropic, irrotational region. The vortex core is also a region of significant turbulent fluctuations. Radial profiles of turbulent kinetic energy and axial-tangential Reynolds stress are presented. The interactions between the vortex and both oblique and normal shock waves are investigated using nonintrusive optical diagnostics (i.e. schlieren, planar laser scattering, and laser Doppler velocimetry). Of the various types, two Mach 2.5 overexpanded-nozzle Mach disc interactions are examined in detail. Below a certain vortex strength, a 'weak' interaction exists in which the normal shock is perturbed locally into an unsteady 'bubble' shock near the vortex axis, but vortex breakdown (i.e., a stagnation point) does not occur. For stronger vortices, a random unsteady 'strong' interaction results that causes vortex breakdown. The vortex core reforms downstream of the rear stagnation point, and the reduced circulation distribution once again becomes self-similar in this region. A-new model of this interaction is proposed. Finally, a curve defining the approximate limits of supersonic vortex breakdown is presented.

Settles, G. S.↗

A numerical investigation of supersonic strut/endwall interactions in annular flow with varying strut thickness

A full 3D Navier-Stokes numerical investigation has been conducted of the shock-wave/boundary-layer flow interactions caused by four diamond-shaped struts, of varying thickness, in an annular duct with Mach 3 core flow and turbulent boundary-layers on both walls. Secondary flows caused by weak-to-strong interactions are examined in the vicinity of a strut which is bounded by curved endwalls. The duct endwall boundary-layer separated for the strongest interaction. The struts studied had maximum thickness-to-chord ratios of 0.125, 0.188, 0.250, and 0.500. The duct gap height is 0.7 strut chords, the duct inner-to-outer wall radius ratio is 0.7, and the Reynolds number is 3 x 10 exp 5 based on the strut chord length which was held constant for all interactions considered. The effects of strut thickness on the secondary flows are discussed, including: trajectories for the leading and trailing edge horseshoe vortices, strut/endwall corner vortices, and boundary-layer separation. The line of coalescence discussed in the literature, previously ascribed to boundary-layer separation, is shown to be caused by the leading edge horseshoe vortex convecting along the shock front.

Williams, K. E.↗

Synergistic Interactions During Co-Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Food Waste and Biomass Model Compounds for Increased Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of lignocellulosic biomass is plagued with low biocrude yields owing to the tendency of highly reactive oxygenated intermediates to condense to form biochars. By contrast, the high protein content in food waste is comprised of substantial nitrogen species, which are known to interact strongly with oxygenates through Maillard, amide, and peptide bond formation reactions. Co-feeding food waste and lignocellulose opens new reaction pathways for biocrude formation but is currently poorly understood. This work evaluated the molecular level interactions between food waste and lignocellulose model compounds and the corresponding effect on product yields and quality. Food waste–cellulose and food waste–xylan feedstock blends achieved maximum biocrude carbon yield improvements of 12.2% and 10.1%, respectively, relative to a simple linear model that interpolates between the yields of the pure feedstocks. Increases in biocrude yield were balanced by corresponding decreases in char yield, indicating synergistic interactions between the feeds during HTL. Biocrude volatility analysis revealed that increased biocrude yield preferentially benefitted the jet fuel fraction, which comprised up to 22.6% of the total carbon yield for food waste–cellulose blends. Biocrude and char were analyzed using GC–MS and FT-IR spectroscopy to investigate the source of synergistic trends and provide greater mechanistic understanding. Key cofeeding effects included the promotion of retro-aldol condensation reactions and trans-esterification of fatty acids, sequestering carbon in the biocrude phase via the inhibition of char formation while increasing biocrude volatility toward jet fuel-range compounds. These results indicate the potential for judicious selection of HTL cofeeds to increase both biocrude yield and selectivity to desired fuel precursors, including sustainable aviation fuel.

Maillard reaction↗

Investigations related to the inviscid-viscous interaction in transonic flows about finite 3-D wings

Inviscid small-disturbance theory has been shown to predict three-dimensional transonic flows about finite wings reasonably well as long as viscous effects are negligible. In order to include these effects, the inviscid small-disturbance solution of Bailey and Ballhaus (1975) has been combined with a finite-difference solution for Prandtl's boundary-layer equations. This solution employs the conditionally stable Krause (1968) scheme, implicit in the direction normal to the wall, to cope with the domain-of-dependence problem that arises for reverse cross flow. To be consistent with the inviscid-flow solution, the boundary layer is computed in the representative wing planform plane which is transformed into rectangular shape in the computational domain. The flow has been assumed turbulent, and a scalar eddy-viscosity model is adopted. The interaction between inviscid and viscous flow is modeled with the help of the displacement surface which is added to the geometric wing shape. Sample distributions of displacement thickness for swept wings are presented for weak and strong interaction cases.

Kordulla, W.↗

Progress report

The NASA funding allowed Clark Atlanta University (CAU) to establish a High Performance Polymers And Ceramics (HiPPAC) Research Center. The HiPPAC Center is consolidating and expanding the existing polymer and ceramic research capabilities at CAU through the development of interdepartmental and interinstitutional research in: (1) polymer synthesis; (2) polymer characterization and properties; (3) polymer processing; (4) polymer-based ceramic synthesis; and (5) ceramic characterization and properties. This Center has developed strong interactions between scientists and materials scientists of CAU and their counterparts from sister institutions in the Atlanta University Center (AUC) and the Georgia Institute of Technology. As a component of the center, we have started to develop strong collaborations with scientists from other universities and the HBCU's, national and federal agency laboratories, and the private sector during this first year. During this first year we have refined the focus of the research in the HiPPAC Center to three areas with seven working groups that will start programmatic activities on January 1, 1993, as follows: (1) nonlinear optical properties of chitosan derivatives; (2) polymeric electronic materials; (3) nondestructive characterization and prediction of polyimide performance; (4) solution processing of high-performance materials; (5) processable polyimides for composite applications; (6) sol-gel based ceramic materials processing; and (7) synthetic based processing of pre-ceramic polymers.

Abhiraman, A.↗

0351+026 - A QSO spawned by interacting galaxies

The results of a detailed investigation into the nature of the H I-rich quasi-stellar object 0351+026 are presented. An improved H I profile reveals the presence of two distinct components. A high-quality CCD image clearly shows the presence of two galaxies. The brighter galaxy hosts the QSO while the less luminous companion has a prominent, apparently stellar nucleus. Moreover, this image also shows streamers of nebulosity emanating from the two galaxies and has an overall morphology which is highly reminiscent of that seen in other strongly interacting galaxies. Optical spectroscopy of the system shows that the forbidden O III emission lies between the two nuclei and there is strong evidence of stellar absorption lines in both the host and companion galaxies. Overall, the data suggest that this system represents a violent encounter between two low-luminosity H I-rich galaxies. The possibility exists that this collision has triggered the QSO activity in the brighter galaxy.

Bothun, G. D.↗

Structure of an anti-HIV-1 hammerhead ribozyme complex with a 17-mer DNA substrate analog of HIV-1 gag RNA and a mechanism for the cleavage reaction: 750 MHz NMR and computer experiments

The structure of an anti-HIV-1 ribozyme-DNA abortive substrate complex was investigated by 750 MHz NMR and computer modeling experiments. The ribozyme was a chimeric molecule with 30 residues-18 DNA nucleotides, and 12 RNA residues in the conserved core. The DNA substrate analog had 17 residues. The chimeric ribozyme and the DNA substrate formed a shortened ribozyme-abortive substrate complex of 47 nucleotides with two DNA stems (stems I and III) and a loop consisting of the conserved core residues. Circular dichroism spectra showed that the DNA stems assume A-family conformation at the NMR concentration and a temperature of 15 degrees C, contrary to the conventional wisdom that DNA duplexes in aqueous solution populate entirely in the B-form. It is proposed that the A-family RNA residues at the core expand the A-family initiated at the core into the DNA stems because of the large free energy requirement for the formation of A/B junctions. Assignments of the base H8/H6 protons and H1' of the 47 residues were made by a NOESY walk. In addition to the methyl groups of all T's, the imino resonances of stems I and III and AH2's were assigned from appropriate NOESY walks. The extracted NMR data along with available crystallographic data, were used to derive a structural model of the complex. Stems I and III of the final model displayed a remarkable similarity to the A form of DNA; in stem III, a GC base pair was found to be moving into the floor of the minor groove defined by flanking AT pairs; data suggest the formation of a buckled rhombic structure with the adjacent pair; in addition, the base pair at the interface of stem III and the loop region displayed deformed geometry. The loop with the catalytic core, and the immediate region of the stems displayed conformational multiplicity within the NMR time scale. A catalytic mechanism for ribozyme action based on the derived structure, and consistent with biochemical data in the literature, is proposed. The complex between the anti HIV-1 gag ribozyme and its abortive DNA substrate manifests in the detection of a continuous track of A.T base pairs; this suggests that the interaction between the ribozyme and its DNA substrate is stronger than the one observed in the case of the free ribozyme where the bases in stem I and stem III regions interact strongly with the ribozyme core region (Sarma, R. H., et al. FEBS Letters 375, 317-23, 1995). The complex formation provides certain guidelines in the design of suitable therapeutic ribozymes. If the residues in the ribozyme stem regions interact with the conserved core, it may either prevent or interfere with the formation of a catalytically active tertiary structure.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

Nanoscopic Structure of the Interface between Reduced TiO 2– x (110) and Water Vapor

We investigate the interaction between a reduced rutile TiO 2–x (110)-(1×4) surface and water vapor at ambient pressures using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-AFM and AP-XPS). Our results reveal that water molecules strongly interact with the reduced surface, leading to hydroxylation and localized clustering of water molecules. In defect-rich regions, AFM tip-induced restructuring causes removal of the topmost surface layer, highlighting the lowered cohesive energy of the surface atoms upon hydroxylation. These findings provide new insights into the water adsorption and restructuring mechanisms on reducible transition metal oxides, relevant for catalytic and environmental applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Viscous wing theory development. Volume 1: Analysis, method and results

Viscous transonic flows at large Reynolds numbers over 3-D wings were analyzed using a zonal viscid-inviscid interaction approach. A new numerical AFZ scheme was developed in conjunction with the finite volume formulation for the solution of the inviscid full-potential equation. A special far-field asymptotic boundary condition was developed and a second-order artificial viscosity included for an improved inviscid solution methodology. The integral method was used for the laminar/turbulent boundary layer and 3-D viscous wake calculation. The interaction calculation included the coupling conditions of the source flux due to the wing surface boundary layer, the flux jump due to the viscous wake, and the wake curvature effect. A method was also devised incorporating the 2-D trailing edge strong interaction solution for the normal pressure correction near the trailing edge region. A fully automated computer program was developed to perform the proposed method with one scalar version to be used on an IBM-3081 and two vectorized versions on Cray-1 and Cyber-205 computers.

Chow, R. R.↗

Quantum Melting of Generalized Wigner Crystals in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Moiré Systems

The generalized Wigner crystal (GWC) is a novel quantum phase of matter driven by further-range interaction at fractional fillings of a lattice. The role of further-range interaction as the driver for the incompressible state is akin to the Wigner crystal. On the other hand, the significant role of commensurate filling is akin to the Mott insulator. Recent progress in simulator platforms presents unprecedented opportunities to investigate quantum melting in the strongly interacting regime through synergy between theory and experiments. However, the earlier theory literature presents diverging predictions. We study the quantum freezing of GWC through large-scale density matrix renormalization group simulations of a triangular lattice extended Hubbard model. We find a single first-order phase transition between the Fermi liquid and the √3×√3 GWC state. Furthermore, the GWC state shows long-range antiferromagnetic 120° Néel order. Our results present the simplest answers to the question of the quantum phase transition into the GWC phase and the properties of the GWC phase.

Density matrix renormalization group↗

The interaction between a strong longitudinal vortex and a turbulent boundary layer

This paper presents the preliminary results of a long-term investigation of the interaction of strong longitudinal vortices with turbulent boundary layers. A pair of trailing vortices is generated by a delta wing, which is mounted ahead of a flat plate so that the trailing vortices merge with the boundary layer on the upper surface of the flat plate, while the non-rolled-up part of the delta-wing wake passes below the plate. This approximates an aircraft wing with a close-coupled canard. The measurements show how the boundary-layer fluid is first subjected to large cross flow and is then transported away from the plate to circulate around the vortex core.

Cutler, A. D.↗

Computation of nonlinear one-dimensional waves in near-sonic flows

A nonlinear analysis is developed for sound propagation in a variable area duct in which the mean flow approaches choking conditions. A quasi-one-dimensional model is used; results of the standard linear theory are compared with the nonlinear results to assess the significance of the nonlinear terms. The nonlinear analysis represents the acoustic disturbance as a sum of interacting harmonics. Numerical results show that the basic signal is unaffected by the presence of higher harmonics if the throat Mach number is not too large, but as the Mach number approaches unity more harmonics are needed to describe the acoustic propagation. The strong interactions among harmonics in the numerical results occur in a region which is generally consistent with the nonlinear inner-expansion region of Callegari and Myers.

Nayfeh, A. H.↗