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At least 271 records · Page 15

The magnetosphere of Uranus - Plasma sources, convection, and field configuration

It is suggested by qualitative considerations based on analogy with earth, Jupiter, and Saturn that the magnetosphere of Uranus may lack a plasma source able to produce significant internal currents, internal convection, and associated effects. A class of approximately self-consistent quantitative magnetohydrostatic equilibrium configurations for the case of a pole-on magnetosphere with variable plasma parameters is presently constructed in order to test this hypothesis by means of forthcoming Voyager measurements. The configurations that can be computed for the geometries of the magnetic field and of the tail current sheet, for a given distribution of plasma pressure, have a single, funnel-shaped polar cusp pointing into the solar wind and a cylindrical tail plasma sheet whose currents close within the tail, rather than on the tail magnetopause. Interconnection of interplanetary and magnetospheric fields yields a highly asymmetric tail-field configuration.

Voigt, G.-H.↗

Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons for High Early-Strength Cement Concrete

Longitudinal oxidative unzipping of the outer walls of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) yields graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs), which exhibit greater open surface area and functional edge content than MWCNTs. This paper presents a study of the nano-amendment of Portland cement concrete with GONRs in concentrations between 0.05% (in weight of cement, wt%) and 0.0005 wt%, thus up to two orders of magnitude lower than that reported as lower-bound in the archival literature. The dispersibility in aqueous solution as a function of GONR concentration and oxygen weight content (O%) was assessed through dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analysis. The results indicated that less effective suspensions were obtained for 0.05 wt% of GONRs and 22.7 O%. Therefore, GONR water suspensions with 30-40% O% were used to manufacture 50 mm × 100 mm cylindrical concrete specimens. After 7 days of curing, results from uniaxial compression tests using four specimens per configuration (MWCNT concentration and O%) showed that the incorporation of GONRs resulted in an average increase in compressive strength up to 45%. Consistent with the DLS and compression test results, SEM micrographs showed well-dispersed GONRs together with accelerated and preferential formation of calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) for all GONR concentrations. The results indicate, for the first time, that the incorporation of very small concentrations (as low as 0.0005 wt%) of well-dispersed GONR amendments can significantly enhance the early-age concrete strength. However, such enhancement became insignificant after 28 days of curing.

cement↗

An experimental investigation of shock wave-turbulent boundary layer interactions with and without boundary layer suction: A data summary report

Tabulated data from a series of experimental studies of the interaction of a shock wave with a turbulent boundary layer in axisymmetric flow configurations is presented. The studies were conducted at the walls of circular wind tunnels and on the cylindrical centerbody of an annular flow channel. Detailed pitot pressure profiles and wall static pressure profiles upstream of, within and downstream of the interaction region are given. Results are presented for flows at nominal freestream Mach Numbers of 2, 3 and 4. For studies at the tunnel sidewalls, the shock waves were produced by conical shock generators mounted on the centerline of the wind tunnel at zero angle of attack. The annular ring generator was used to produce the shock wave at the centerbody of the annular flow channel. The effects of boundary layer bleed were examined in the investigation. Both bleed rate and bleed location were studied. Most of the bleed studies were conducted with bleed holes drilled normal to the wall surface but the effects of slot suction were also examined. A summary of the principal results and conclusions is given.

Sun, C. C.↗

Optical elements formed by compressed gases: Analysis and potential applications

Spherical, cylindrical, and conical shock waves are optically analogous to gas lenses. The geometrical optics of these shock configurations are analyzed as they pertain to flow visualization instruments, particularly the rainbow schlieren apparatus and single-pass interferometers. It is proposed that a lens or mirror formed by gas compressed between plastic sheets has potential as a fluid visualization test object; as the objective mirror in a very large space-based telescope, communication antenna, or energy collector; as the objective mirror in inexpensive commercial telescopes; and as a component in fluid visualization apparatuses.

Howes, W. L.↗

Theoretical wave drag of shrouded airfoils and bodies

Formulas for the wave drag of shrouded symmetrical airfoils and shrouded bodies of revolution of arbitrary shape are derived by means of linearized theory. In the case of the airfoils, the shroud consists of flat plates and for the bodies of revolution the shroud is a cylindrical shell. The results obtained hold for a Mach number range dependent on the geometry of the configuration. Expressions are also given for determining a class of body shapes for which the wave drag is theoretically zero.

Byrd, Paul F↗

Concept verification of three dimensional free motion simulator for space robot

In the development of automatic assembling technologies for space structures, it is an indispensable matter to investigate and simulate the movements of robot satellites concerned with mission operation. The movement investigation and simulation on the ground will be effectively realized by a free motion simulator. Various types of ground systems for simulating free motion have been proposed and utilized. Some of these methods are a neutral buoyancy system, an air or magnetic suspension system, a passive suspension balance system, and a free flying aircraft or drop tower system. In addition, systems can be simulated by computers using an analytical model. Each free motion simulation method has limitations and well known problems, specifically, disturbance by water viscosity, limited number of degrees-of-freedom, complex dynamics induced by the attachment of the simulation system, short experiment time, and the lack of high speed super-computer simulation systems, respectively. The basic idea presented here is to realize 3-dimensional free motion. This is achieved by combining a spherical air bearing, a cylindrical air bearing, and a flat air bearing. A conventional air bearing system has difficulty realizing free vertical motion suspension. The idea of free vertical suspension is that a cylindrical air bearing and counter balance weight realize vertical free motion. This paper presents a design concept, configuration, and basic performance characteristics of an innovative free motion simulator. A prototype simulator verifies the feasibility of 3-dimensional free motion simulation.

Okamoto, Osamu↗

Modeling and Identification of a Large Gap Magnetic Suspension System

This paper presents the results of modeling and system identification efforts on the NASA Large-Angle Magnetic Suspension Test Fixture (LAMSTF). The LAMSTF consists of a cylindrical permanent magnet which is levitated above a planar array of five electromagnets mounted in a circular configuration. The analytical model is first developed and open-loop characteristics are described. The system is shown to be highly unstable and requires feedback control in order to apply system identification. Limitations on modeling accuracy due to the effect of eddy-currents on the system are discussed. An algorithm is derived to identify a state-space model for the system from input/output data acquired during closed-loop operation. The algorithm is tested on both the baseline system and a perturbed system which has an increased presence of eddy currents. It is found that for the baseline system the analytic model adequately captures the dynamics, although the identified model improves the simulation accuracy. For the system perturbed by additional unmodeled eddy-currents the analytic model is no longer adequate and a higher-order model, determined through system identification, is required to accurately predict the system's time response.

Cox, David E.↗

Compliant, low profile, independently releasing, non-protruding and genderless docking system for robotic modules

An apparatus for coupling with a mating coupling module to facilitate the joining of two disjoined structures without requiring precise alignment between the disjoined structures during the coupling of them may include a rotating drive mechanism, a hollow cylindrical body operatively connected to the rotating drive mechanism, wherein the hollow cylindrical body has at least one internal spiral channel, and at least one connector claw positioned within the hollow cylindrical body and guided by the internal spiral channel, wherein the at least one connector claw is configured to extend outwardly from the coupling module to engage the mating coupling module when brought in close proximity but not necessarily in precise alignment with the mating coupling module.

Khoshnevis, Behrokh↗

Dynamic evolution of coronal magnetic fields

The response of coronal magnetic fields to photospheric motion is investigated using a time-dependent, two-dimensional MHD simulation. Starting with an initially uniform field, a circular section of the loop base is slowly rotated to represent the photospheric motion. The field lines at the base move with this flow in a manner consistent with the generated electric fields. The subsequent evolution of the field and flow can be characterized as passing through several distinct configurations. In the earliest phase the kinetic energy is negligible, and the current and field are parallel throughout most of the cylinder. This is followed by a period in which the field rotation increases, the axial field at and near the axis increases, and the acial field decreases in two cylindrical regions away from the axis. When the field in an appreciable portion of the cylinder has undergone one complete rotation, a rapid change in field configuration occurs with a large portion of the field making several rotations at large radii and a corresponding large reduction in the axial field.

Steinolfson, Richard S.↗

Compression strength of composite primary structural components

The linear elastic response is determined for an internally pressurized, long circular cylindrical shell stiffened on the inside by a regular arrangement of identical stringers and identical rings. Periodicity of this configuration permits the analysis of a portion of the shell wall centered over a generic stringer-ring joint; i.e., a unit cell model. The stiffeners are modeled as discrete beams, and the stringer is assumed to have a symmetrical cross section and the ring an asymmetrical section. Asymmetery causes out-of-plane bending and torsion of the ring. Displacements are assumed as truncated double Fourier series plus simple terms in the axial coordinate to account for the closed and pressure vessel effect (a non-periodic effect). The interacting line loads between the stiffeners and the inside shell wall are Lagrange multipliers in the formulation, and they are also assumed as truncated Fourier series. Displacement continuity constraints between the stiffeners and shell along the contact lines are satisfied point-wise. Equilibrium is imposed by the principle of virtual work. A composite material crown panel from the fuselage of a large transport aircraft is the numerical example. The distributions of the interacting line loads, and the out-of-plane bending moment and torque in the ring, are strongly dependent on modeling the deformations due to transverse shear and cross-sectional warping of the ring in torsion. This paper contains the results from the semiannual report on research on 'Pressure Pillowing of an Orthogonally Stiffened Cylindrical Shell'. The results of the new work are illustrated in the included appendix.

Johnson, Eric R.↗

Material effects on dynamics in triple-nozzle gas-puff Z pinches

Here, the gas-puff Z pinch has a long history with myriad applications as an efficient neutron or x-ray source. Its simplicity as a load configuration makes it suitable for studying fundamental plasma physics phenomena such as instabilities and energy transport. For example, the implosion of cylindrical shells onto a fusion fuel are inherently susceptible to instability growth on their external surfaces; if such instabilities are unmitigated, then the consequences in terms of degraded performance can be substantial. Similarly, mitigating heat transport from a hot fuel to its colder surrounding container can make fusion conditions more easily achievable. Here we have conducted a systematic study of triple-nozzle (outer liner, inner liner, fuel) gas puffs using two-dimensional (2D) magnetohydrodynamic simulations to investigate the effect of load material on the relevant dynamics. Analogous to past studies on spherical blast waves and converging shock waves, a trend emerges linking increased radiative cooling, lower adiabatic index, and increased magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth. Notably, our results suggest that, for the present configuration, Ar radiates less than both Ne and Kr during the early stages of the implosion while mass is being swept up and perturbations begin to seed instability growth. Consequently, pinches with Ar on the outer surface exhibit more stable 2D behavior. Here we also present a parameter scan of thermonuclear neutron yield, Y, as a function of peak current, I pk and dopant concentration with Ne or Ar, depending on the inner liner material. Above 6 MA, our results suggest Y ∝ $I$$^{5}_{pk}$ and even substantial mixing (10% by volume) of Ne into the fuel does not drastically reduce yield, suggesting an Ar/Ne/fuel configuration may reliably achieve DD thermonuclear yields of 10 13 – 10 14 /cm in the 10–20 MA range.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Results from computer program for analyzing scattered light suppression systems for large space telescope

A computer program was developed which has the ability to analyze the performance of most light suppression systems so as to predict the amount of scattered light which will reach the image plane for various conditions of unwanted light input from the sun, earth, or moon. This program was used to analyze three different configurations of the large space telescope (LST): an LST with a truncated sunshield, an LST with an extended cylindrical sunshield, and an LST with a conical sunshield which is tilted upwards. The computer program gives the user detailed information as to the paths taken by the unwanted stray light to reach the image plane, and pinpoints those portions of the light suppression system which contribute most of the stray light, so that areas requiring improvements are evident. Certain design guide lines were formulated for any light suppression system selected for the LST, and one which meets these requirements (the tilted sunshade) is described in detail.

Tifft, W. G.↗

Cassini/Titan-4 Acoustic Blanket Development and Testing

NASA Lewis Research Center recently led a multi-organizational effort to develop and test verify new acoustic blankets. These blankets support NASA's goal in reducing the Titan-4 payload fairing internal acoustic environment to allowable levels for the Cassini spacecraft. To accomplish this goal a two phase acoustic test program was utilized. Phase One consisted of testing numerous blanket designs in a flat panel configuration. Phase Two consisted of testing the most promising designs out of Phase One in a full scale cylindrical payload fairing. This paper will summarize this highly successful test program by providing the rationale and results for each test phase, the impacts of this testing on the Cassini mission, as well as providing some general information on blanket designs.

Hughes, William O.↗

Summary of tower designs for large horizontal axis wind turbines

Towers for large horizontal axis wind turbines, machines with a rotor axis height above 30 meters and rated at more than 500 kW, have varied in configuration, materials of construction, type of construction, height, and stiffness. For example, the U.S. large HAWTs have utilized steel truss type towers and free-standing steel cylindrical towers. In Europe, the trend has been to use only free-standing and guyed cylindrical towers, but both steel and reinforced concrete have been used as materials of construction. These variations in materials of construction and type of construction reflect different engineering approaches to the design of cost effective towers for large HAWTs. Tower designs are the NASA/DOE Mod-5B presently being fabricated. Design goals and requirements that influence tower configuration, height and materials are discussed. In particular, experiences with United States large wind turbine towers are elucidated. Finally, current trends in tower designs for large HAWTs are highlighted.

Frederick, G. R.↗

Optimization of Slosh Baffle Geometry

This paper describes a method for determining the optimum baffle configuration for suppressing excessive propellant sloshing in the tanks of a large launch vehicle. The optimum geometry for a baffle system is considered to be the one with the least mass which is capable of providing the necessary damping. The analysis considers a cylindrical tank and a baffle system made up of several flat ring baffles mounted horizontally. The basic assumptions are discussed and derivations given of the equations necessary to predict the optimum baffle configuration consistent with adequate strength. Numerical results are presented graphically, and some general conclusions are drawn.

OPTIMIZATION↗

Experimental fatigue life investigation of cylindrical thrust chambers

The thrust chambers studied in the investigation have been designed for a possible use in the Space Shuttle main engine. An annular combustion chamber configuration was used, consisting of an annular injector, a liquid hydrogen cooled outer cylinder, which served as the test section, and a contoured water cooled centerbody which formed the throat. Twenty-two cylinders were fabricated by milling cooling channels into liners fabricated from the material to be evaluated. The three materials chosen for the liners include OFHC copper, Amzirc, and NARloy-Z. The cylinders were cyclically tested until failure occurred due to fatigue cracks in the hot-gas-side wall. It was found that cylinders with liners fabricated from NARloy-Z and aged Amzirc had the best cyclic life characteristics.

Quentmeyer, R. J.↗

Effects of zero and reversed magnetic shear on resistive wall modes in a straight limiter tokamak with zero beta

Advanced tokamak scenarios often feature equilibriums with zero and reversed magnetic shear. To isolate and investigate their impacts on the resistive wall mode (RWM) instability analytically, we construct a series of cylindrical limiter equilibriums with different magnetic shear in the core and toward plasma edge, as a prototype of the configurations in advanced tokamak scenarios. Equilibriums with zero β are considered so that the analysis focuses on the current-driven RWMs. Analytical solutions for the n=1 resistive wall mode, derived from the reduced ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations, consistently demonstrate key insights for both the core and the edge: the growth rate of RWMs is inversely proportional to the averaged magnetic shear when the safety factor at the edge (qa) is held constant. Specifically, an increase in positive averaged magnetic shear results in a decreased growth rate, whereas an increase in negative averaged magnetic shear leads to an increased growth rate. Furthermore, the influence of nqa on the mode's stability significantly surpasses the effects of magnetic shear changes previously discussed. These analytical calculation results provide a verification of NIMROD simulations.

Wan, Sui (ORCID:0009000464121677)↗

Structural uncertainty assessment for fire-engulfed objects in crosswind: Establishing credibility for a multiphysics wall-modeled large-eddy simulation paradigm

A structural uncertainty validation study for a large-scale, fire-engulfed, elevated object subjected to crosswind is presented to establish the credibility of a high-fidelity, low-Mach, turbulent reacting flow wall-modeled large-eddy simulation (WMLES) approach that includes multiphysics coupling to participating media radiation and conjugate heat transfer. To establish that WMLES can accurately predict surface quantities including drag and pressure coefficient in the low-Mach crosswind regime, a foundational elevated isothermal cylinder validation case is presented at a similar gap-to-diameter ratio of 0.25, spanning the subcritical to supercritical drag regime (Re 𝐷 = 1.1 × 10 5 and 4.3 × 10 5 , respectively). Here, this study exercised both static and dynamic coefficient LES (Smagorinsky and 𝑘 sgs ) with both local and exchange-based velocity sampling. Results showcase that the drag crisis (or the sudden drop in drag coefficient at increased Re 𝐷 ) is well captured when using an exchange-based dynamic coefficient WMLES methodology, while noting lack of mesh convergence and overall drag and pressure coefficient predictively when using a static coefficient, local velocity sampling WMLES. For the 𝒪⁡(10) m JP-8 liquid pool fire crosswind validation study presented, two experimental crosswind configurations (2 m/s and 9.5 m/s) are showcased for a fire-engulfed mock fuselage roughly 4 m in diameter. Using the best model-form practices identified in the isothermal study, dynamic coefficient 𝑘 sgs exchange-based WMLES fire validation findings demonstrate accurate peak irradiation and skin temperature predictions as a function of crosswind magnitude. Excessive yaw in the low-crosswind fuselage configuration, consistent with experimental findings, captured a significant predicted asymmetry in flame attachment and heat flux toward the downwind cylindrical cap—indicative of axial vortex structures transporting the flame along the upper and lower fuselage leeward surface. All fire mesh resolution simulations captured the experimental finding that as crosswind increased, predicted flame shape and peak irradiation magnitude onto the fuselage transitioned from a windward to a leeward cylinder location due to the migration of the upper- to lower-shear fuel/air mixing layer thereby demonstrating the novelty, significance, and credibility of this high-fidelity WMLES reacting flow framework.

Domino, Stefan Paul [Sandia National Laboratories ↗