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At least 199 records · Page 11

Hydrodynamic models of a Cepheid atmosphere. I - Deep envelope models

The implicit hydrodynamic code of Kutter and Sparks has been modified to include radiative transfer effects. This modified code has been used to compute deep envelope models of a classical Cepheid with a period of 12 days. It is shown that in this particular model the hydrogen ionization region plays only a small role in producing the observed phase lag between the light and velocity curves. The cause of the bumps on the model's light curve is examined, and a mechanism is presented to explain those Cepheids with two secondary features on their light curves. This mechanism is shown to be consistent with the Hertzsprung sequence only if the evolutionary mass-luminosity law is used.

Karp, A. H.↗

Hydrodynamic models of a Cepheid atmosphere

Instead of computing a large number of coarsely zoned hydrodynamic models covering the entire atmospheric instability strip, the author computed a single model as well as computer limitations allow. The implicit hydrodynamic code of Kutter and Sparks was modified to include radiative transfer effects in optically thin zones.

Karp, A. H.↗

Numerical simulation of tornado wind loading on structures

A numerical simulation of a tornado interacting with a building was undertaken in order to compare the pressures due to a rotational unsteady wind with that due to steady straight winds used in design of nuclear facilities. The numerical simulations were performed on a two-dimensional compressible hydrodynamics code. Calculated pressure profiles for a typical building were then subjected to a tornado wind field and the results were compared with current quasisteady design calculations. The analysis indicates that current design practices are conservative.

Maiden, D. E.↗

Time-dependent spherically symmetric accretion onto compact X-ray sources

Analytical arguments and a numerical hydrodynamic code are used to investigate spherically symmetric accretion onto a compact object, in an attempt to provide some insight into gas flows heated by an outgoing X-ray flux. It is shown that preheating of spherically symmetric accretion flows by energetic radiation from an X-ray source results in time-dependent behavior for a much wider range of source parameters than was determined previously and that there are two distinct types of instability. The results are compared with observations of X-ray bursters and transients as well as with theories on quasars and active galactic nuclei that involve quasi-spherically symmetric accretion onto massive black holes. Models based on spherically symmetric accretion are found to be inconsistent with observations of bursters and transients.

Cowie, L. L.↗

Collisional and dynamical processes in moon and planet formation

The collisional and dynamical processes in moon and planet formation are discussed. A hydrodynamic code of collision calculations, the orbital element changes due to gravitational scattering, a validation of the mass shifting algorithm, a theory of rotations, and the origin of asteroids are studied. A numerical model of planet growth is discussed and a methodology to evaluate the rate at which megaregolith increases its depth as a function of total accumulate number of impacts on an initially smooth, coherent surface is described.

Source record↗

The hydrodynamics of off-center explosions

The behavior of off-center supernova explosions is investigated using a two-dimensional hydrodynamic code. An important application of these calculations is the possible formation of high-velocity pulsars. The dependence of the final velocity of the collapsed remnant on the location and energy of the explosion is computed. The largest remnant velocities result from explosions located at a mass fraction of 0.5. An explosion energy 50% greater than the binding energy of the star ejects 0.51 solar masses, producing a 1.4 solar mass remnant with a velocity of 400 km/s. However, this energy must be generated in a very small region of the star in order to create the required asymmetry in the explosion. Because of this, a specific energy of about 10 to the 20th ergs/g is needed. Nuclear reactions can produce no more than about 5 x 10 to the 17th erg/g, and it is unclear how the energy produced in gravitational collapse models can be sufficiently localized. Unless a supernova mechanism can be found which can produce enough energy in a small region of the star, off-center explosions do not provide a satisfactory explanation for high-velocity pulsars.

Fryxell, B. A.↗

Protostellar formation in rotating interstellar clouds. II - Axially symmetric collapse

A two spatial dimension gravitational hydrodynamics code has been used to calculate the initial isothermal dynamic collapse phase of axially symmetric, rotating interstellar clouds. The Eulerian code has been constructed so as to conserve angular momentum both locally (approximately) and globally (exactly). An axially symmetric, rotating cloud collapses to form a rotating, near-equilibrium ring. The rings so formed are compared with those found previously by Black and Bodenheimer, and Bodenheimer and Tscharnuter, and found to agree in structure fairly well. Numerical tests with the code, as well as an analytic calculation of the collapse of a pressureless, rotating, axially symmetric cloud in a fixed gravitational potential, support the assertion that the observed ring formation is physically realistic.

Boss, A. P.↗

Protostellar formation in rotating interstellar clouds. III - Nonaxisymmetric collapse

The paper discusses a full three spatial-dimension gravitational hydrodynamic code used to follow the collapse of isothermal rotating clouds subjected to various nonaxially symmetric perturbations (NAP). An initially axially symmetric cloud collapsed to form a ring which then fragmented into a binary protostellar system; a low thermal energy cloud with a large bar-shaped NAP collapsed and fragmented into a binary, and higher thermal energy clouds damp out such NAPs while higher rotational energy clouds produce binaries with wider separations. The three-dimensional calculations indicate that isothermal interstellar clouds may fragment into protostellar objects while still in the isothermal regime. Interstellar clouds and their fragments may pass through collapse phases with fragmentation and reduction of spin angular momentum terminating in the formation of pre-main-sequence stars with the observed pre-main-sequence rotation rates.

Boss, A. P.↗

Time-dependent, optically thick accretion onto a black hole

A fully relativistic hydrodynamics code which incorporates diffusive radiation transport is used to study time-dependent, spherically symmetric, optically thick accretion onto a black hole. It is found that matter free-falls into the hole regardless of whether the diffusion time scale is longer or shorter than the dynamical time. Nonadiabatic heating due to magnetic field reconnection is included. The internal energy thus generated affects the flow in a purely relativistic way, again ensuring free-fall collapse of the inflowing matter. Any matter enveloping a black hole will thus be swallowed on a dynamical time scale with relatively small net release of energy. The inclusion of angular momentum will not necessarily affect this conclusion.

Gilden, D. L.↗

A numerical study of the NOL large-scale test

The large-scale gap test was modeled numerically using the reactive hydrodynamics code 2DE with forest fire burn rates. The model gives good agreement between calculated and experimental critical gap values. The calibration of peak pressure in the gap versus gap length is obtained from these calculations, and is in good agreement with the published experiment curve. The two dimensional nature of the gap test is evident from the curvature of the shock wave in the gap and test sample, and from the observed distance of run to detonation in the test samples.

Bowan, A. L.↗

Sympathetic reaction tests and analyses

The critical separation distances for explosive reactions of a solid rocket propellant were measured. Explosive reactions included low order explosion, low order detonation, and high order detonation. The effects of sample size, shape, damage and temperature on sympathetic reaction were determined experimentally. The sympathetic detonation of small cubes of solid rocket propellant was modelled numerically, using the Eulerian reactive hydrodynamic code 2DE with Forest Fire burn rates. The model was applied to cubes of 2.54 - 7.62 cm (1 - 3 in.), with agreement between calculated and experimental results.

Ricardson, D. E.↗

Another self-similar blast wave: Early time asymptote with shock heated electrons and high thermal conductivity

Accurate approximations are presented for the self-similar structures of nonradiating blast waves with adiabatic ions, isothermal electrons, and equation ion and electron temperatures at the shock. The cases considered evolve in cavities with power law ambient densities (including the uniform density case) and have negligible external pressure. The results provide the early time asymptote for systems with shock heating of electrons and strong thermal conduction. In addition, they provide analytical results against which two fluid numerical hydrodynamic codes can be checked.

Cox, D. P.↗

Galactic absorption line coronae

Models are developed to determine if gaseous coronas around galaxies give rise to the absorption systems in quasar spectra. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic code with radiative cooling is used to study the dynamics and thermodynamics of a corona, and the position and rate at which clouds form. Coronal gas is found to rise from an extended gaseous disk in two models with base coronal temperatures of 10 to the 6th K and 0.50 x 10 to the 6th K. Column densities of 10 to the 19th sq cm out to a radius of 7 kcp are also achieved with a total gas mass of 2.0 x 10 to the 9th and 1.7 x 10 to the 9th solar masses, respectively. The velocity structure of the model absorption line systems may be reproduced, and clouds in pressure equilibrium with the hot coronas have densities consistent with basic observational and theoretical restrictions.

Bregman, J. N.↗

Collapse and fragmentation of rotating, adiabatic clouds

A numerical hydrodynamics code has been used to calculate the collapse of rotating, adiabatic clouds. The three-dimensional nature of the calculation allows the clouds to fragment in the dynamic collapse phase. Clouds with adiabatic exponent of 7/5 and initial cos(2 phi) density variations fragment into binary systems if the initial ratio of thermal to gravitational energy is small (about 0.05). Clouds with higher thermal energy, however, damp the density variation and form near-equilibrium ellipsoids, with ratios of rotational to gravitational energy less than the critical value for dynamic growth of nonaxisymmetry in Maclaurin spheroids. Even with an adiabatic pressure law, dynamic fragmentation of a collapsing cloud is possible, implying for star formation theory that the low thermal energy fragments produced in isothermal collapse calculations may undergo a subsequent dynamic fragmentation in the nonisothermal regime.

Boss, A. P.↗

Coronal closed structures. IV - Hydrodynamical stability and response to heating perturbations

The response of magnetically confined atmospheres to perturbations in the temperature and density distribution, and the local heating rate by means of a one-dimensional time-dependent hydrodynamical code, which incorporates the full energy, momentum and mass conservation equations is studied. These studies extend the linear instability analysis of Habbal and Rosner (1979) into the finite-amplitude regime, and generalize the confined atmosphere models of Serio et al., to the time-dependent domain. The results show that closed coronal atmospheres are stable against finite-amplitude perturbations if the chromospheric response is taken into account; and observed correlated increases in coronal density and temperature can only be achieved under quiescent conditions by increasing the heat deposition rate relatively more in the chromosphere than in the corona.

Peres, G.↗

The dynamics of the Venus ionosphere. I - A simulation of the solar wind compression of the upper dayside ionosphere

One of the most exciting discoveries by the Pioneer Venus mission is the extreme variability in the structure of the Venus atmosphere. The solar wind plays a major, although as yet not well-defined, role in the dynamics of the ionosphere. An investigation is being conducted regarding the response of the dayside Venus ionosphere to changing solar wind conditions, in particular to the varying solar wind dynamic pressure. In the present study the dynamics of the upper (h equal to or greater than 200 km) ionosphere are simulated numerically using a one-dimensional, spherically symmetric, Lagrangian hydrodynamic code developed by Stein and Schwartz (1972). The ionosphere is assumed to be unmagnetized and is represented with a two-fluid model. The initial ionosphere is chosen to be in pressure equilibrium with the solar wind at the ionopause. It is shown how some of the time-dependent features of the Venus ionosphere may be simulated with the considered model.

Wolff, R. S.↗

The dynamics of the Venus ionosphere. II - The effects of the time scale of the solar wind dynamic pressure variations

The effects on the upper dayside Venus ionosphere of a slow increase in solar wind dynamic pressure are simulated numerically with a one-dimensional (spherically symmetric) Lagrangian hydrodynamical code. The simulation is started with an extended ionosphere in pressure equilibrium with the solar wind at the ionopause. The pressure at the ionopause is gradually increased to five times the initial pressure with rise times of 5, 15, and 30 min. It is found that, for rise times greater than about 10 min, the compression of the ionopause is nearly adiabatic, with the ionopause moving downward at velocities of approximately 1-2 km/sec until it reaches a maximally compressed state, at which time the motion reverses. For short rise times the compression produces a shock wave similar to that occurring in the case of a sudden increase in pressure. The global implications of these processes are discussed within the context of Pioneer Venus observations and future theoretical work on this problem is outlined.

Stein, R. F.↗

The dynamic fission instability and the origin of the Moon

A theory for the formation of the Moon which involves the dynamic fission of a rapidly rotating protoplanet, which might then result in the formation of the Earth and the Moon is discussed. The fission hypothesis was originally based on analytic, linearized models of the growth of asymmetry in homogenous bodies. The fully nonlinear evolution of the dynamic instability in inviscid, compressible bodies was calculated by numerical techniques. It was found that the dynamic instability degenerates into the ejection of a ring of matter with a substantial fraction of the mass, leaving behind a central body with most of the mass. The linearized analytical approach and the numerical approach were used to show that dynamic fission probably does not occur in rocky protoplanets. The numerical calculations are performed with a fully three dimensional hydrodynamical code, which allows the nonlinear, time evolution of the instability to be followed. Sequences of uniformly rotating equilibria were constructed and are used as the initial models for the fission calculations. An initially imposed asymmetry consisting of a 10% binary perturbation in the density was found to disappear on the rotational period time scale. No dynamic instability occurred. This result are verified by including the velocity dissipation terms in the linearized analysis of the stability of a Maclaurin spheroid: the dynamic instability disappears when the simulated viscous dissipation terms are included. It is concluded that any rocky body, even with considerable partial melt or a molten core, should be stable to dynamic fission; any rotational instability that occurs can only result in equatorial mass loss.

Boss, A. P.↗