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At least 253 records · Page 14

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NASA NTRS1992

Time-dependent cosmic ray shocks with injection - A progress report

The study presents preliminary results of a two-fluid hydrodynamical simulation of cosmic-ray-modified shock structure by extending the steady-state calculations of Zank et al. (1991) to the time-dependent case. The present simulations model diffusive shock acceleration of the energetic particle component at planar shocks. A new model for the injection of cosmic ray particles is presented. The quadratic artificial viscosity algorithm is found to be numerically unstable and therefore unusable for strong cosmic ray shocks. There is visible ringing and overshoot in the various profiles. A large enhancement in the fluid density appears downstream of the subshock. This 'overcompression' results from the upstream fluid being compressed in the precursor, then traversing a strong shock with compression ratio near the adiabatic limit of four.

Donohue, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Multiscale turbulence effects in supersonic jets exhausting into still air

A modified version of the multiscale turbulence model of Hanjalic has been applied to the problem of supersonic jets exhausting into still air. In particular, the problem of shock-cell decay through turbulent interaction with the mixing layer has been studied for both mildly interacting and strongly resonant jet conditions. The modified Hanjalic model takes into account the nonequilibrium energy transfer between two different turbulent spectral scales. The turbulence model was incorporated into an existing shock-capturing, parabolized Navier-Stokes computational model in order to perform numerical experiments. The results show that the two-scale turbulence model provides significant improvement over one-scale models in the prediction of plume shock structure for underexpanded supersonic (Mach 2) and sonic (Mach 1) jets. For the supersonic jet, excellent agreement with experiment was obtained for the centerline shock-cell pressure decay up to 40 jet radii. For the sonic jet, the agreement with experiment was not so good, but the two-scale model still showed significant improvement over the one-scale model. It is shown that by relating some of the coefficients in the turbulent-transport equations to the relative time scale for transfer of energy between scales the two-scale model can provide predictions that bound the measured shock-cell decay rate for the sonic jet.

Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Simulated high speed flight effects on supersonic jet noise

A free jet is utilized to investigate the changes in the noise received from supersonic jets in high speed subsonic flight. Flight Mach numbers to 0.9 are simulated for supersonic jets with fully expanded Mach numbers between 1 and 2. Plume pressure measurements show only minor changes in the shock structure of off-design jets up to a Mach number of 0.6. Correspondingly, far-field noise measurements indicate little change to the broadband shock noise emitted at right angles to the jet. However, measurements within the free jet show that convection effects on the noise are substantial, and that the point source convective amplification that is proportional to the fourth power of the Doppler factor may apply for broadband shock noise in flight. Measurements of jet mixing noise for an on-design supersonic jet show that the current predictions of mixing noise in flight can be extended to flight Mach numbers of at least 0.5.

Norum, Thomas D.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Direct Acceleration of Pickup Ions at The Solar Wind Termination Shock: The Production of Anomalous Cosmic Rays

We have modeled the injection and acceleration of pickup ions at the solar wind termination shock and investigated the parameters needed to produce the observed Anomalous Cosmic Ray (ACR) fluxes. A non-linear Monte Carlo technique was employed, which in effect solves the Boltzmann equation and is not restricted to near-isotropic particle distribution functions. This technique models the injection of thermal and pickup ions, the acceleration of these ions, and the determination of the shock structure under the influence of the accelerated ions. The essential effects of injection are treated in a mostly self-consistent manner, including effects from shock obliquity, cross- field diffusion, and pitch-angle scattering. Using recent determinations of pickup ion densities, we are able to match the absolute flux of hydrogen in the ACRs by assuming that pickup ion scattering mean free paths, at the termination shock, are much less than an AU and that modestly strong cross-field diffusion occurs. Simultaneously, we match the flux ratios He(+)/H(+) or O(+)/H(+) to within a factor approx. 5. If the conditions of strong scattering apply, no pre-termination-shock injection phase is required and the injection and acceleration of pickup ions at the termination shock is totally analogous to the injection and acceleration of ions at highly oblique interplanetary shocks recently observed by the Ulysses spacecraft. The fact that ACR fluxes can be modeled with standard shock assumptions suggests that the much-discussed "injection problem" for highly oblique shocks stems from incomplete (either mathematical or computer) modeling of these shocks rather than from any actual difficulty shocks may have in injecting and accelerating thermal or quasi-thermal particles.

Ellison, Donald C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Flow and acoustic properties of low Reynolds number supersonic underexpanded jets

Flow and acoustic measurements are made of cold model jets exhausting from a choked nozzle at pressure conditions corresponding to those of Mach 1.4 and 2.1 jets to investigate noise production properties of underexpanded supersonic jets. Mean flow measurements are made using pitot and static pressure probes, with flow fluctuation measurements made with a hot-wire probe and acoustic measurements made with a transversing microphone. Two convergent nozzles with exit diameters of 7.0 and 7.9 mm are used with an exciter consisting of a 0.8 mm tungsten electrode positioned 2 mm from the exit. Shock structure is observed as having a significant effect on the development of the flow field, while large-scale instabilities have higher growth rates in the shock containing underexpanded jets. The role of the asymmetric n = + or - 1 sinusoidal instability is clarified, and results suggest that the broadband shock associated noise of conventional high Reynolds number jets is not related to large-scale jet instability.

Hu, T. F.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Supersonic Rocket Thruster Flow Predicted by Numerical Simulation

Despite efforts in the search for alternative means of energy, combustion still remains the key source. Most propulsion systems primarily use combustion for their needed thrust. Associated with these propulsion systems are the high-velocity hot exhaust gases produced as the byproducts of combustion. These exhaust products often apply uneven high temperature and pressure over the surfaces of the appended structures exposed to them. If the applied pressure and temperature exceed the design criteria of the surfaces of these structures, they will not be able to protect the underlying structures, resulting in the failure of the vehicle mission. An understanding of the flow field associated with hot exhaust jets and the interactions of these jets with the structures in their path is critical not only from the design point of view but for the validation of the materials and manufacturing processes involved in constructing the materials from which the structures in the path of these jets are made. The hot exhaust gases often flow at supersonic speeds, and as a result, various incident and reflected shock features are present. These shock structures induce abrupt changes in the pressure and temperature distribution that need to be considered. In addition, the jet flow creates a gaseous plume that can easily be traced from large distances. To study the flow field associated with the supersonic gases induced by a rocket engine, its interaction with the surrounding surfaces, and its effects on the strength and durability of the materials exposed to it, NASA Glenn Research Center s Combustion Branch teamed with the Ceramics Branch to provide testing and analytical support. The experimental work included the full range of heat flux environments that the rocket engine can produce over a flat specimen. Chamber pressures were varied from 130 to 500 psia and oxidizer-to-fuel ratios (o/f) were varied from 1.3 to 7.5.

Davoudzadeh, Farhad↗

NASA NTRS1985

Shock effects on hydrous minerals and implications for carbonaceous meteorites

The effect of shock loading over the pressure range of 29-59 GPa on the shock-recovered specimens of antigorite serpentine, Mg3Si2O5(OH)4, were investigated employing infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and optical and scanning electron microscopy. With increasing shock pressure, there was an increase in H2O IR absorption peaks at the expense of OH peaks, while the changes in SiO bond vibration modes were identical to those seen for other, nonhydrous minerals. Thermogravimetric results on vented assembly samples showed linear relationships between the shock pressure and both the length of dehydration interval and the effective activation energy for releasing post-shock structural water. Optical and scanning electron microscopy revealed gas bubbles, which appeared to be injected into zones of partial melting, and vesicular dark veins distributed throughout the shocked samples. It is suggested that shock loading of hydrous minerals would release and redistribute free water in the regoliths of carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies, giving rise to observed hydrous alterations.

Lange, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The accretion wake of 31 Cygni

Archival IUE observations of 31 Cygni at phases at which its sister Zeta Aurigae systems exhibit evidence of an accretion wake are discussed. The absence of absorption in Mg II can be explained by the phase at the specific times of observation. The detection of high-velocity absorption due to C IV but not N V implies a shock temperature lower than that of Zeta Aur and 22 Vul but higher than than of 32 Cygni. The dependence of the high-velocity absorption component on phase is consistent with a simple model for the shock structure. The reverse P Cygni profiles in the high-temperature lines are weak and the emission components are observed only at the times when the accretion shock cone absorption is detected. Interpretation of a high-velocity shortward-shifted absorption component as circumstellar material is consistent with the estimated terminal velocity of the supergiant wind.

Ahmad, I. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Active galactic nuclei. II - The acceleration of relativistic particles in a cluster of accreting black holes

An accreting cluster of black holes in an active galactic nucleus is a natural site for a system of shock structures with a hierarchy of sizes, corresponding to the distribution of masses in the cluster. Accreted gas containing some magnetic fields and supersonically falling onto the core forms shocks on the outside of each hole and these shocks are capable of accelerating relativistic particles. The energies reached in a single shock are size rather than acceleration time limited and are proportional to the mass of the hole with a proportionality constant being a function of the position of the hole within a cluster and the model of the cluster and the shock formation. These energies are adequate to explain the observed properties of synchrotron and inverse-Compton radiation from these objects. The resulting energy spectrum of particles in the cluster in 'zeroth' approximation has the form of a doubly broken power law with indices of two and three on both extremes of the energy domain respectively, bridged by an index of about 2.5.

Pacholczyk, A. G.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Reynolds stress closure in jet flows using wave models

Ways of implementing the turbulence closure scheme based on modeling the large scale coherent structures as instability waves were sought. The computational tools necessary to apply this scheme to jets of arbitrary geometry were developed. The model, developed earlier, was extended to the shock structure of supersonic jets of arbitrary geometry and multiple jets. It was found that though the qualititate features of the unsteady flow field could be predicted there were always difficulties with some of the quantitative features. This led to the new formation of the closure scheme. The schemes for computations tools which were developed are efficient and represent the application of the very powerful mathematical tools to the problems of practical significance.

Morris, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Molecule formation. I - In normal H I clouds. II - In interstellar shock waves.

The formation of simple molecules and their role in the chemistry and physics of the interstellar medium is considered. The requirements for recombination reactions to occur on interstellar grains with the subsequent buildup of a molecular mantle are discussed. Together with a discussion of depletion and heating of the evolving gas, this forms the basis for a treatment of the precollision history of dust and gas. All the chemical reactions included in the calculations are given, as well as the results of calculations for two values of the intercloud pressure and for a range of cloud masses. Shock waves in clouds whose precollision history has been calculated are treated, followed by discussion of the shock structure and the dynamics of the grains. The process of sputtering is treated, and expressions are given for the cooling rates, including cooling due to the molecules formed behind the shock front. All the chemical reactions included in the calculations are given, as well as the results of calculations for a range of shock velocities and initial molecular hydrogen abundances.

Aannestad, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The solar wind interaction with Venus - Pioneer Venus observations of bow shock location and structure

Pioneer Venus observations are used in carrying out a study of the location and structure of the Venus bow shock. The trace of the shock in the solar wind aberrated terminator plane is almost circular at an altitude of 1.38 Venus radii independent of interplanetary magnetic field orientation with an extrapolated subsolar height of 0.38 Venus radii. Gas dynamic relations and scaling of the terrestrial analogue are used in determining the effective impenetrable obstacle altitude from the mean shock surface with the conclusion that it lies beneath the observed height of the ionopause. The short-term variability in shock position is similar to that found at the earth; over the long-term bow shock, altitude varies by up to approximately 35% in phase with the solar cycle for reasons other than changing solar wind Mach number. In contrast to ionopause position, which is shown to be well determined by external pressure measurements, it is found that bow shock altitude is only weakly dependent on ionopause height and solar wind dynamic pressure.

Slavin, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Shock acceleration of energetic particles in the heliosphere

The apparent distinction between 'V x B' and 'Fermi' mechanisms is clarified in a discussion of the theory of the shock acceleration of energetic particles which restricts attention to those cases where the energetic particles do not themselves influence the given shock structure. The theory is applied to the acceleration of energetic particles in corotating interaction regions (CIR) in the solar wind, where particles are accelerated at either the forward and reverse shocks which bound the CIR by being compressed between the shock fronts and magnetic irregularities upstream of the shocks, or by being compressed between upstream irregularities and those downstream from the shocks. The model is shown to account for the observed exponential spectra at the earth, observed spectra behavior with radial distance and radial intensity gradients, and differences in spectra intensity at the forward and reverse shocks. Energy spectra are also calculated for the shock acceleration of energetic particles in large solar flare events.

Lee, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Two-temperature radiative shocks with electron thermal conduction

The influence of electron thermal conduction on radiative shock structure is studied for both one- and two-temperature plasmas. The dimensionless ratio of the conductive length to the cooling length determines whether or not conduction is important, and shock jump conditions with conduction are established for a collisionless shock front. Approximate solutions are obtained, with the assumptions that the ionization state of the gas is constant and the cooling rate is a function of temperature alone. In the absence of magnetic fields, these solutions indicate that conduction noticeably influences normal-abundance interstellar shocks with velocities 50-100 km/s and dramatically affects metal-dominated shocks over a wide range of shock velocities.

Borkowski, Kazimierz J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Computation of supersonic jet noise under imperfectly expanded conditions

The turbulent mixing noise of supersonic jet under imperfectly expanded conditions is calculated for convergent and convergent-divergent (CD) axisymmetric nozzle geometries. The noise prediction incorporates CFD solution of Navier-Stokes equations. The effect of grid resolution on shock structure computation is demonstrated. Mixing noise spectra predicted from fine and coarse grid solutions exhibit little sensitivity to the grid resolution. A proper grid resolution, however, results in a significant improvement in shock capturing capability and helps predictions agree favorably with experimental data. Good agreement between predicted noise spectra and data shows that the CFD-incorporated noise prediction scheme, which was demonstrated for shock-free conditions, works as well for shock-containing flow conditions.

Kim, Chan M.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Computation of supersonic jet noise under imperfectly expanded conditions

Kim, Chan M.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Radio to Gamma-Ray Emission from Shell-Type Supernova Remnants: Predictions from Non-Linear Shock Acceleration Models

Supernova remnants (SNRs) are widely believed to be the principal source of galactic cosmic rays, produced by diffusive shock acceleration in the environs of the remnant's expanding blast wave. Such energetic particles can produce gamma-rays and lower energy photons via interactions with the ambient plasma. The recently reported observation of TeV gamma-rays from SN1006 by the CANGAROO Collaboration, combined with the fact that several unidentified EGRET sources have been associated with known radio/optical/X-ray-emitting remnants, provides powerful motivation for studying gamma-ray emission from SNRs. In this paper, we present results from a Monte Carlo simulation of non-linear shock structure and acceleration coupled with photon emission in shell-like SNRs. These non-linearities are a by-product of the dynamical influence of the accelerated cosmic rays on the shocked plasma and result in distributions of cosmic rays which deviate from pure power-laws. Such deviations are crucial to acceleration efficiency considerations and impact photon intensities and spectral shapes at all energies, producing GeV/TeV intensity ratios that are quite different from test particle predictions.

Baring, Matthew G.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Kinetic structure of intermediate shocks: Implications for the magnetopause

A general study of the structure and stability of intermediate shocks (IS) in an isotropic plasma is presented using a hybrid as well as a resistive Hall MHD code. Special emphasis is put on the question of whether the rotational layers observed at the magnetopause can be intermediate shocks. The shocks are formed dynamically by the interaction between a flowing plasma and a stationary piston. Coplanar ISs (both strong and weak) are found to be stable in a collisionless plasma. The existence of slow shocks in a high beta plasma is also established for the first time. Noncoplanar ISs are found to be time-dependent, evolving toward a rotational discontinuity (RD) after some characteristic time tau which can be quite long (1000 Omega(exp -1), where Omega is the ion gyrofrequency). The value tau is larger the closer the rotation angle is to 180 deg. Rotations larger than 180 deg are found to be unstable, decaying into a state of minimum shear (i.e., rotation angle less than 180 deg). There are various length scales associated with an IS in the kinetic regime. The shortest scale is found to be the length scale over which rotation of the transverse component of the magnetic field takes place. This scale can have a half width as small as one ion inertial length (c/omega(sub p)) for electron sense rotations and 3c/omega(sub p) for ion sense rotations, for an upstream ion beta of unity. Both of these scales are consistent with the observed thickness at the magnetopause and identical to the corresponding RD scales. A detailed study of the mode conversion of the Alfven ion cyclotron waves (A/IC) waves across both slow and intermediate shocks and the resulting downstream wave spectrum are presented. The possibility that the large number of relfected ions observed at the magnetopause may be due to the presence of strong ISs is considered. The identification of strong ISs and their distinction from RDs should be possible in observations due to significant differences that exist between jump conditions and overall structure of the two discontinuities. The jumps in the plasma parameters across a weak IS are typically small. This together with the fact that the weak ISs and RDs have very similar thickness and other overall properties makes the distinction between weak ISs and RDs in the observations largely inconsequential. However, at large noncoplanarity angles the weak IS approaches the RD limit in a relatively short time (approximately less than 100 Omega (exp -1)). Thus, magnetopause rotations with large noncoplanarity angles are most likely either RDs or strong ISs. Finally, direct comparisons between fluid (resistive Hall MHD) and kinetic simulations show that fluid theory is not applicable to study of ISs in a collisionless plasma.

Karimabadi, H.↗