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At least 325 records · Page 18

Rotational-translational energy transfer in rarefied nonequilibrium flows

A new model for simulating the transfer of energy between the translational and rotational modes is derived for a homogeneous gas of diatomic molecules. The model has been developed specifically for use in discrete particle simulation methods where molecular motion and intermolecular collisions are treated at the molecular level. A temperature dependence is introduced which has been predicted by theory and observed in experiment. The new model is applied to the relaxation of rotational temperature, and is found to produce significant differences in comparison with the model normally employed at both high and low temperatures. Calculations have also been performed for a Mach 7 normal shock wave.

Boyd, Iain D.↗

Transition Analysis for the Mars Science Laboratory Entry Vehicle

Viscous Laminar-turbulent transition plays an important role in the design of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) entry vehicle. The lift-to-drag ratio required for the precision landing trajectory will be achieved via an angle of attack equal to 16 degrees. At this relatively high angle of attack, the boundary layer flow near the leeward meridian is expected to transition early in the trajectory, resulting in substantially increased heating loads. This paper presents stability calculations and transition correlations for a series of wind tunnel models of the MSL vehicle. Experimentally measured transition onset locations are used to correlate with the N-factor calculations for various wind tunnel conditions. Due to relatively low post-shock Mach numbers near the edge of the boundary layer, the dominant instability waves are found to be of the first mode type. The N-factor values correlating with measured transition onset at selected test points from the Mach 6 conventional facility experiments fall between 3.5 and 4.5 and apparently vary linearly with the wind tunnel unit Reynolds number, indicating strong receptivity effect. The small transition N value is consistent with previous correlations for second-mode dominant transition in the same wind tunnel facility. Stability calculations for stationary and traveling crossflow instability waves in selected configurations indicate that an N value of 4 and 6, respectively, correlates reasonably well with transition onset discerned from one experimentally measured thermographic image.

Chang, Chau-Lyan↗

Nonlinear gas oscillations in pipes. II - Experiment

The problem of forced acoustic oscillations in a pipe was experimentally investigated, taking into account the response of both open and closed tubes to near-resonant excitation by large amplitude oscillations of a piston at one end of the tube. Attention was given to the effect of the orifice area on shock waves. By comparing the experimental results with nonlinear theory, wave reflection coefficients of the orifice plates were determined at both closed-tube and open-tube resonant frequencies. This approach can even be used when the terminating elements are subjected to intense periodic pressure pulses.

Sturtevant, B.↗

Deceleration of the solar wind upstream from the earth's bow shock and the origin of diffuse upstream ions

Observations with the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory/Max-Planck-Institut crossed-fan solar wind ion experiment on ISEE I reveal that the solar wind is decelerated and deflected away from the direction of the earth's bow shock as it enters that portion of the upstream region populated by diffuse bow shock ions and long-period (10-60 s) waves. Typically, the average directed velocity vector changes by 7-10 km/s as it enters the wave region. At times, average speed changes as large as 25-40 km/s are observed. Superposed upon these changes in average flow speed are large amplitude (+ or - 15) fluctuations in flow speed associated with the waves themselves. The observations suggest that the solar wind deceleration is the result of momentum transfer from reflected bow shock ions to the wind via the long-period waves as the reflected ion beams go unstable. The broad angular distributions of the diffuse ions thus appear to be produced as a consequence of the disruption of reflected ion beams.

Bame, S. J.↗

Prediction of secondary separation in shock wave boundary-layer interactions

A complex three-dimensional shock-wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction at Mach 4 has been investigated experimentally and computationally, using two turbulence models with substantial refinement. With the use of a fine grid model, secondary flow separation was successfully computed, and grid changes did not improve agreement with experiment for the extent of upstream influence. The use of a non-isotropic turbulence model gave a slight improvement in upstream influence, but the size of the interaction was still significantly less than in the experiment.

Horstman, C. C.↗

Shock wave structure using nonlinear model Boltzmann equations

The structure of a strong plane shock wave in a monatomic rarefied perfect gas is one of the simplest problems able to be posed in kinetic theory, and one of the hardest to solve. Its simplicity lies in the absence of solid boundaries, geometrical complications, or internal molecular energy. Its difficulty arises from the great departure of the gas from equilibrium within the shock, which invalidates many of the techniques used successfully elsewhere in kinetic theory. In addition to this theoretical challenge, the modern development of ballistics and hypersonic flight has helped to stimulate extensive theoretical and experimental interest in the shock problem. The experimenters in turn have encountered great difficulties on account of the very small physical dimensions of shocks. In fact, until very recently indeed, any close comparisons of theoretical and experimental shock structure results have been rather unprofitable due to the inadequacies of both theory and experiment. During the last few years this situation has been appreciably improved by development of the Monte Carlo method. This allows idealized 'experiments' to be performed on large computers instead of in wind tunnels, using a known intermolecular force law. The most developed of these methods has been shown to be equivalent theoretically to the Boltzmann equation and to give results which agree extremely closely with measurements of high accuracy. Thus Monte Carlo results not only form the soundest basis for our present theoretical knowledge of shock wave structure, but, for purposes of developing other theories, can also be considered a very valuable experimental resource. However, such results remain very expensive to obtain. In this thesis we develop more economical kinetic theory methods for the approximate prediction of shock structure, and compare our results with those of the Monte Carlo method.

Segal, Ben Maurice↗

Experimental investigation of the inlet detector configuration variation in the flow field at Mach 1.9

In recent years, active research has been conducted to study the technological feasibility of supersonic laminar flow control on the wing of the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). For this study, the F-16XL has been chosen due to its highly swept crank wing planform that closely resembles the HSCT configurations. During flights, it is discovered that the shock wave generated from the aircraft inlet introduces disturbances on the wing where the data acquisition is conducted. The flow field about a supersonic inlet is characterized by a complex three dimensional pattern of shock waves generated by the geometrical configuration of a deflector and a cowl lip. Hence, in this study, experimental method is employed to investigate the effects of the variation of deflector configuration on the flow field, and consequently, the possibility of diverting the incoming shock-disturbances away from the test section. In the present experiments, a model composed of a simple circular tube with a triangular deflector is designed to study the deflector length and the deflector base width variation in the flow field. Experimental results indicate that the lowest external pressure ratio is observed at the junction where the deflector lip and the inlet cowl lip merge. Also, it is noted that the external pressure ratio, the internal pressure ratio, the coefficient of spillage drag, and the shock standoff distance decrease as the deflector length increases. In addition, the Redefined Total Pressure Recovery Ratio (RTPRR) increases with an increase in the deflector length. Results from the study of the effect of the deflector's base width variation on the flow field indicate that the lowest external pressure ratio is observed at the junction between the inlet cowl lip and the deflector lip. As the base width of the deflector increases, the external pressure ratio at 0 rotation increases, whereas the external pressure ratio at 180 rotation decreases. In addition, the internal pressure ratio and the coefficient of spillage drag decrease as the base width of the deflector increases. However, RTPRR and shock standoff distance increase as the base width increases. In conclusion, as deflector dimensions vary, distinctive patterns in the pressure variation around the inlet deflector are observed. With an increase in the deflector length and base width, the magnitude of shock-disturbances are weakened due to a decrease in the external pressure ratio. Also, as the deflector length and base width increase, a smaller bow shock angle is formed. Therefore, the inlet shock wave formation would be significantly altered, and consequently, shock disturbances on the wing test section can be avoided through appropriately designing the deflector.

Hwang, Kyu C.↗

Determination of two-stroke engine exhaust noise by the method of characteristics

A computational technique was developed for the method of characteristics solution of a one-dimensional flow in a duct as applied to the wave action in an engine exhaust system. By using the method, it was possible to compute the unsteady flow in both straight pipe and tuned expansion chamber exhaust systems as matched to the flow from the cylinder of a small two-stroke engine. The radiated exhaust noise was then determined by assuming monopole radiation from the tailpipe outlet. Very good agreement with experiment on an operation engine was achieved in the calculation of both the third octave radiated noise and the associated pressure cycles at several locations in the different exhaust systems. Of particular interest is the significance of nonlinear behavior which results in wave steepening and shock wave formation. The method computes the precise paths on the x-t plane of a finite number of C(sub +), C(sub -) and P characteristics, thereby obtaining high accuracy in determining the tailpipe outlet velocity and the radiated noise.

Jones, A. D.↗

CME-Associated Radio Bursts from Satellite Observations

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are closely associated with various types of radio bursts from the Sun. All radio bursts are due to nonthermal electrons, which are accelerated during the eruption of CMEs. Radio bursts at frequencies below about 15 MHz are of particular interest because they are associated with energetic CMEs that contribute to severe space weather. The low-frequency bursts need to be observed primarily from space because of the ionospheric cutoff. The main CME-related radio bursts are associated are: type III bursts due to accelerated electrons propagating along open magnetic field lines, type II bursts due to electrons accelerated in shocks, and type IV bursts due to electrons trapped in post-eruption arcades behind CMEs. This paper presents a summary of results obtained during solar cycle 23 primarily using the white-light coronagraphic observations from the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the WAVES experiment on board Wind. Particular emphasis will be placed on what we can learn about particle acceleration in the coronal and interplanetary medium by analyzing the CMEs and the associated radio bursts.

Gopalswamy, Nat↗

Plasma wave experiment for the ISEE-3 mission

Results of analyses of data received from a scientific instrument designed to study solar wind and plasma wave phenomena on the ISEE-3 mission are discussed in two papers prepared for publication. A study of plasma wave levels in and interplanetary magnetic field orientation preceding observations of interplanetary shocks by the satellite infers that quasi-parallel, interplanetary shocks are preceded by foreshocks whose presence is not obviously attributable to scattering of ion beams generated at quasi-perpendicular zones of these interplanetary shocks. Investigations of whistler mode turbulence in the disturbed solar wind resulted in various indirect lines of evidence indicating that these whistler waves are generated propagating at large angles to the local interplanetary field, a fact which helps identify possible free energy sources for their growth.

Scarf, F. L.↗

On the use of wall functions as boundary conditions for two-dimensional separated compressible flows

A new and improved wall function method for compressible turbulent flows has been developed and tested. This method is applicable to attached and separated flows, to both high- and low-Reynolds number flows, and to flows with adiabatic and nonadiabatic surfaces. This wall function method has been applied to the Launder-Spalding k-epsilon two-equation model of turbulence. The tests consist of comparisons of calculated and experimental results for: (1) an axisymmetrical transonic shock-wave/boundary-wave interaction flow at low Reynolds number in an adiabatic tube, (2) an axisymmetrical high-Reynolds number transonic flow over a nonadiabatic bump, and (3) a two-dimensional supersonic high-Reynolds number flow on a nonadiabatic deflected flap. Each of these experiments had significant regions of flow separation. The calculations are performed with an implicit algorithm that solves the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. It is shown that the results obtained agree very well with the data for the complex compressible flows tested.

Viegas, J. R.↗

Highly Efficient Design-of-Experiments Methods for Combining CFD Analysis and Experimental Data

It is the purpose of this study to examine the impact of "highly efficient" Design-of-Experiments (DOE) methods for combining sets of CFD generated analysis data with smaller sets of Experimental test data in order to accurately predict performance results where experimental test data were not obtained. The study examines the impact of micro-ramp flow control on the shock wave boundary layer (SWBL) interaction where a complete paired set of data exist from both CFD analysis and Experimental measurements By combining the complete set of CFD analysis data composed of fifteen (15) cases with a smaller subset of experimental test data containing four/five (4/5) cases, compound data sets (CFD/EXP) were generated which allows the prediction of the complete set of Experimental results No statistical difference were found to exist between the combined (CFD/EXP) generated data sets and the complete Experimental data set composed of fifteen (15) cases. The same optimal micro-ramp configuration was obtained using the (CFD/EXP) generated data as obtained with the complete set of Experimental data, and the DOE response surfaces generated by the two data sets were also not statistically different.

Anderson, Bernhard H.↗

Evaluation of microcrack thermal shock damage in ceramics: Modeling and experiment

In this paper we present an experimental and theoretical study of the effect of microcrack damage on ceramic properties. For the experimental investigation, ceramic samples of aluminum oxide and reaction bonded silicon nitride (RBSN) are used. Thermal shock treatment from different temperatures up to 1000 C is applied to produce the microcracks. Both surface and bulk ultrasonic wave methods are used to correlate the change of elastic constants to microstructural degradation and to determine the change in elastic anisotropy induced by microcrack damage. For the theoretical investigation, damage mechanics, which relates microstructural damage to material service life and mechanical failure, is used. The change in elastic properties due to microcrack damage calculated from the theoretical model is compared with the experimental results for determination of the applicability of damage theory. It is shown that two independent experimental methods (bulk wave and surface wave) give the same results for shear moduli of damaged ceramics. The experimental results aagree reasonably well with the moduli predicted from the cracked solid model.

Chu, Y. C.↗

Laboratory investigation of electric charging of dust particles by electrons, ions, and UV radiation

In many cosmic environments electric charging of dust particles occurs by electrons, ions, and UV radiation. In case of interstellar dust particles the value of their electric charge can have, for instance, very important consequences for their destruction rate in supernova remnant's shock waves and can globally influence the overall life cycle of dust particles in galaxies. For experimental simulation of charging processes a vacuum chamber was used in which the particles fall through an electron or ion beam of energies up to 10 KeV. The aim of the experiments was to attain maximum charge of dust particles. Furthermore the influence of the rest gas was also determined because electrons and ions produced by collisional ionization of the rest gas can result in significant effects. For measurement particles from 1 to 100 microns from glass, carbon, Al, Fe, MgO, and very loosely bound conglomerates of Al2O3 were used.

Svestka, Jiri↗

Vibrational Energy Coupling in Expanding N2/O2/NO Admixtures

Recent direct measurements of N2 and O2 vibrational populations in expansions of synthetic air show a closer coupling of the vibrational energies than indicated by adapting earlier experimental results from shock compressions to the nozzle expansion problem. An important difference between the shock wave and nozzle flow problems is the presence of NO in significant amounts throughout the relaxation in the case of a nozzle flow. This may account for the stronger coupling since NO is well suited to promote vibrational energy exchange. The results of a series of experiments and analysis examining vibrational energy coupling in expansions of admixtures approximating air are reported. N2 and O2 vibrational populations are determined by a single-pulse spontaneous Raman scattering technique. NO vibrational populations are determined by broadband absorption by the NO(y) system. The resulting data permit the role of NO in promoting vibrational energy coupling to be better understood, and are used to evaluate models of vibrational energy exchange for application to expanding flows.

Gilmore, John O.↗

Cross-Measurement Comparisons for a CFD Validation Dataset on Mach 2.5 Axisymmetric Turbulent Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interactions

Experimental data for a shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction has been collected using multiple measurement techniques. Unfortunately, diversity of methods for acquisition begets an aggregation of data which does not directly quantify the same properties of the flowfield. The objective in this paper was to (a) present the collection of flowfield measurements in one venue in a format more usable for those validating CFD models against the data, (b) evaluate the degree to which the experimental data support each other, and (c) highlight the differences and relative advantages/shortcomings of each measurement techniques. To present the various measured quantities into common format, CFD results from a companion paper also submitted for presentation at this meeting are utilized. For the case where the boundary layer remains attached, there is agreement between the various measurements as well as with Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulation solutions. As the impinging shock strength is increased beyond the point of separating the boundary layer, the congruity of the data wanes. Generally, agreement among the measurements exceeds the degree to which the CFD solutions agree with experiments. This suggests that unmodeled physical phenomena, such as transient motion of the reflected shock and separation bubble, give rise to the discrepancies observed in the computational results.

Shock-wave Boundary-layer interaction↗

Effect of flight on jet noise from supersonic underexpanded flows

Experiments on underexpanded cold jet flows from a convergent nozzle under simulated flight conditions have shown that a large periodic spinning motion of the jet can occur with greatly enhanced broadband noise production. Shadowgraph pictures indicate that this oscillatory jet motion accompanies the generation of random weak shock waves at the source. These waves appear to be generated at the point downstream of the nozzle exit where the shock cells in the jet begin to disappear. The weak shock waves propagate upstream and have been identified to be the cause of enhanced broadband jet noise production in flight. In addition, the results show that the boundary layer flow conditions over the outside of the primary nozzle (simulating engine cowl flow in flight) have a key role in the production of these random weak shock waves.

Sarohia, V.↗

Interaction between a normal shock wave and a turbulent boundary layer at high transonic speeds. I - Pressure distribution

Asymptotic solutions are derived for the pressure distribution in the interaction of a weak normal shock wave with a turbulent boundary layer. The undisturbed boundary layer is characterized by the law of the wall and the law of the wake for compressible flow. In the limiting case considered, for 'high' transonic speeds, the sonic line is very close to the wall. Comparisons with experiment are shown, with corrections included for the effect of longitudinal wall curvature and for the boundary-layer displacement effect in a circular pipe.

Messiter, A. F.↗