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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.
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Discussion of studies relating to the selection of doping materials of high neutron absorption usable for enhancing the neutron radiographic imaging of explosive mixtures, without interfering with the proper chemical reaction of the explosives. The results of the studies show that gadolinium oxide is an excellent material for doping explosive mixtures to enhance the neutron radiographic image.
Recently developed techniques provide totally-confined linear explosive seam welding and produce scarf joint with linear explosive seam welding. Linear ribbon explosives are utilized in making narrow, continuous, airtight joints in variety of aluminum alloys, titanium, copper, brass, and stainless steel.
Methods of producing TZM molybdenum wire reinforced C129Y columbium alloy composites by explosive welding were studied. Layers of TZM molybdenum wire were wound on frames with alternate layers of C129Y columbium alloy foil between the wire layers. The frames held both the wire and foils in place for the explosive bonding process. A goal of 33 volume percent molybdenum wire was achieved for some of the composites. Variables included wire diameter, foil thickness, wire separation, standoff distance between foils and types and amounts of explosive. The program was divided into two phases: (1) development of basic welding parameters using 5 x 10-inch composites, and (2) scaleup to 10 x 20-inch composites.
The results of a continuing program to develop an explosively driven 2-stage hypervelocity launcher capable of achieving velocities between 15 and 20 km/sec are described. Previous efforts had identified incomplete barrel collapse as a limiting factor in launcher performance. Correlation of experimental and computational results obtained in the present study indicate that boundary-layer gases within the barrel act to prevent complete closure. Simplified calculations suggest that in-contact explosives may have insufficient energy densities to collapse the barrel against a developed boundary layer. Higher energy densities, sufficient to produce complete closure, were obtained with the use of steel flyer plates accelerated by a phased explosive lens. However, when flat flyer plates were impacted on the barrel, the sides of the barrel were observed to rupture and leak gas prior to barrel closure. A promising solution to this problem (untested) is to produce a symmetrical collapse with a cylindrical tube around the barrel.
The report describes the development and evaluation of an inert simulant for the thermally stable, heat-resistant plastic-bonded explosive HNS/Teflon. The simulant is made by dry blending vinylidene fluoride, melamine and Teflon which when compared has a pressed density and thermal properties corresponding closely to the explosive. In addition, the machinability and handling characteristics of the simulant are similar to the explosive.
The results are described of a continuing study aimed at developing a two-stage explosively driven hypervelocity launcher capable of achieving projectile velocities between 15 and 20 km/sec. The testing and evaluation of a new cylindrical impact technique for collapsing the barrel of two-stage launcher are reported. Previous two-stage launchers have been limited in ultimate performance by incomplete barrel collapse behind the projectile. The cylindrical impact technique explosively collapses a steel tube concentric with and surrounding the barrel of the launcher. The impact of the tube on the barrel produces extremely high stresses which cause the barrel to collapse. The collapse rate can be adjusted by appropriate variation of the explosive charge and tubing parameters. Launcher experiments demonstrated that the technique did achieve complete barrel collapse and form a second-stage piston. However, jetting occurred in the barrel collapse process and was responsible for severe projectile damage.
Explosives and pyrotechnic propellant materials which will withstand heat sterilization cycling at 125 C and ten year deep space aging under 10 to the minus 6th power torr and 66 C have been selected. The selection was accomplished through a detailed literature survey and an analytical evaluation of the physicochemical properties of the materials. The chemical components of the electroexplosive devices used in U.S. missiles and spacecraft were categorized into primary explosives, secondary explosives, and propellant ingredients. Kinetic data on such parameters as thermal decomposition and sublimation were obtained for these materials and used as a basis for the ten year life prediction. From these experimental data and some analytical calculations, a listing of candidate materials for deep space missions was made.
HNS/Teflon (90/10) is a new pressed explosive developed for use in the Apollo program. The major advantages of HNS/Teflon are (1) excellent thermal stability at elevated temperatures, (2) superior resistance to sublimation at high temperatures and low pressures and (3) ease of molding powder preparation, pressing and machining. The impact sensitivity of HNS/Teflon is between that of Comp B and Comp A-3 while its explosive performance is about the same as TNT. Under the severe environmental conditions of the moon's surface, this explosive successfully performed its intended function of generating seismic waves in the Apollo ALSEP and LSPE experiments. (Modified author abstract)
The feasibility and application of an explosive propulsion concept capable of supporting future unmanned missions in the post-1980 era were examined and recommendations made for advanced technology development tasks. The Venus large lander mission was selected as the first in which the explosive propulsion concept can find application. A conceptual design was generated and its performance, weight, costs, and interaction effects determined. Comparisons were made with conventional propulsion alternatives. The feasibility of the explosive propulsion system was verified for planetology experiments within the dense atmosphere of Venus as well as the outer planets. Additionally, it was determined that the Venus large lander mission could be augmented ballistically with a significant delivery margin.
The evolution of thermally generated magnetic fields in a plasma undergoing a nearly spherically symmetric adiabatic compression or expansion is calculated. The analysis is applied to obtain approximate results for the development of magnetic fields in laser-driven compression and explosion of a pellet of nuclear fuel. Localized sources, such as those occurring at composition boundaries in structured pellets or at shock fronts, give stronger fields than those deriving from smoothly distributed asymmetries. Although these fields may approach 10 million G in the late stages of compression, this is not expected to present difficulties for the compression process. Assuming ignition of a nuclear explosion occurs, the sources become much stronger, and values of approximately 10 billion G are obtained at tamper boundaries assuming a 20% departure from spherical symmetry during the explosion.
It has been thought that the unplanned mixing of the propellants of liquid launch vehicles could result in massive explosion and destruction. This paper presents results of NASA's attempt to develop a precise analytical theory and predictive model for liquid propellant explosives. Prediction model experiments involving a 'seven-chart' approach showing the relationship between yield function, mixing function, time dependence, chemical and physical reactant properties and quantity effects were used to establish a theory that autoignition takes place when propellants mix in a certain 'critical mass' or greater. An analytical confirmation of the theory has been carried out, with particular reference to possible autoignition in LOX/LH2 and LOX/RP-1 and Saturn V: it was confirmed that autoignition occurs and prevents the mixing of more than the 'critical mass' and therefore limits the explosive yield to several thousand pounds, which will disperse the remaining propellant and prohibit detonation of the total quantities otherwise suspected.
In 1968, a series of 0.5-ton and 100-ton TNT explosion experiments were conducted in granitic rock near Cedar City, Utah, as part of a basic research program on cratering and shock wave propagation. Of special interest was the formation of an important type of shock metamorphic feature, shatter cones. A description is presented of the first reported occurrence of shatter cones in high explosion trials. A background to shatter cone studies is presented and attention is given to the test program, geology and physical properties of the test medium, the observed cratering, and the formational pressures for shatter cones. The high explosion trials conducted demonstrate beyond any doubt, that shatter cones can be formed by shock wave processes during cratering and that average formational pressures in these crystalline rocks are in the 20-60 kb range.
The possibility that the newly discovered correlated isotopic anomalies for heavy elements in the Allende meteorite were synthesized in the secondary neutron capture episode during the explosive carbon burning, the possible source of the O-16 and Al-26 anomalies, is examined. Explosive carbon burning calculations under typical conditions were first performed to generate time profiles of temperature, density, and free particle concentrations. These quantities were inputted into a general neutron capture code which calculates the resulting isotopic pattern from exposing the preexisting heavy seed nuclei to these free particles during the explosive carbon burning conditions. The interpretation avoids the problem of the Sr isotopic data and may resolve the conflict between the time scales inferred from 1-129, Pu-244, and Al-26.
The conditions under which QSO line-emitting regions can survive a relativistic explosion are investigated along with the question of whether past and future observations can place constraints on both predicted highly energetic outbursts of ultrarelativistic plasma or LF electromagnetic radiation and the line-emitting gas. Observed properties of QSO emission-line regions are reviewed, and the interaction between a relativistic explosion and a dense cloud is analyzed for the cases of a sudden release of relativistic plasma and an outburst of LF electromagnetic waves. Bremsstrahlung X-ray emission from shocked QSO filaments is calculated, the evolution of dense QSO clouds is examined, and radiative acceleration is excluded as the process responsible for the high bulk velocities of filaments, at least in sources that display energetic outbursts. An alternative mechanism involving highly energetic explosions is proposed.
A model is developed for the nucleosynthetic yields from the supernova explosion of a massive star of the sort which has been proposed as the initiating event in the formation of the solar system by Cameron and Truran (1977). Calculations start with the Hugoniot curves, estimating the preshock conditions from a 25 solar masses model at the start of core collapse. It is shown that the products of static carbon burning dominate abundance patterns in the ejecta. Both explosive carbon burning and explosive neon burning contribute significantly to Al-26. The production of Al-26 in this model is consistent with the trigger hypothesis.
A methodology is presented which provides predictions for the probability of initiation of explosion in high explosive filled warheads and in propellant filled rocket motor cases given the impact of compact fragments or of small projectiles. Equations of velocities at which 50 percent of the explosive filled cases will initiate either high or low order are developed for compact fragments, and for projectiles. These data are used to establish the standard deviation of the data from the 50 percent initiation line. Standard deviation is used to provide predictions of the probability of initiation given the impact velocity and other pertinent parameters using equations and logic which are established in a computer model. This computer model uses fragment material properties and encounter parameters to predict fragment impact initiation, and projectile and casing material properties and encounter parameters to predict projectile impact initiation.
The evolution of galaxies in an intergalactic medium dominated by explosions of star systems is considered analogously to star formation by nonlinearly interacting processes in the interstellar medium. Conditions for the existence of a hydrodynamic instability by which galaxy formation leads to more galaxy formation due to the propagation of the energy released at the death of massive stars are examined, and it is shown that such an explosive amplification is possible at redshifts less than about 5 and stellar system masses between 10 to the 8th and 10 to the 12th solar masses. Explosions before a redshift of about 5 are found to lead primarily to the formation of massive stars rather than galaxies, while those at a redshift close to 5 will result in objects of normal galactic scale. The model also predicts a dusty interstellar medium preventing the detection of objects of redshift greater than 3, numbers and luminosities of protogalaxies comparable to present observations, unvirialized groups of galaxies lying on two-dimensional surfaces, and a significant number of black holes in the mass range 1000-10,000 solar masses.
It is pointed out that the details of the synthesis of the elements just beyond iron are unclear. Thus, a reexamination of the role played by neutron-capture reactions during explosive carbon burning is indicated. A description is given of calculations of explosive carbon-burning nucleosynthesis using a complete neutron capture (n-process) computer code with a network extending from Cr through Zr and including not only (n,gamma), (gamma,n) reactions and beta-decay but also (p,n), (n,p), (p,gamma), and (p,alpha) reactions. Initial conditions indicative of the composition of a massive star following core helium burning were selected, and a comparison is made with conditions similar to those used by Howard et al. (1972). It is found that neutron reactions during explosive carbon burning are an important source for the elements just beyond iron.