Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “particle delays”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18

SAF Combustion & Soot Processes [Slides]

The atomization, mixing, combustion and emissions characteristics of aviation fuels were measured using a novel approach based on a non-continuous injection scheme called the single-hole atomizer (SHA). High-speed microscopy revealed differences between fuels in terms of evaporation and mixing regimes over conditions relevant to modern and next generation aero-engine combustors. Measurements of liquid and vapor penetration, mixing fields, combustion and emissions metrics (ignition delay, lift-off length, PAH formation, soot mass) highlighted the effects of fuels and combustor conditions. The experimental results are being leveraged to adjust and validate chemical and CFD models. Detailed analysis of sampled soot showed subtle differences in soot morphology between fuels. The results revealed the presence of contaminants potentially affecting surface chemistry and the nucleation propensity of water droplets on particles. Chemical mechanisms for NJFCP A-2, C-1 and C-4 showed good performance over a large parameter space. Spray breakup at relight conditions is vastly different from the atomization observed at high pressure. CFD simulations of the SHA target conditions confirmed the good behavior of the C-1 kinetic mechanism. The simulations support the strong relationship between low and high temperature reactions. New altitude chamber facility to enable detailed characterization of the heterogeneous nucleation process of water on aerosol particles.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Neuroimmune responses to space radiation

One of the main health risks in human deep space exploration is central nervous system (CNS) damage by ionizing radiation due to exposure to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). In animal models, irradiation with simulated GCRs or their components has been shown to cause neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. The extent of CNS damage is partially mediated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which regulates the interaction between CNS and systemic responses to stressors in the rest of the body. The main cellular regulators of BBB permeability are astrocytes, which also modulate neuronal death, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. However, studies on BBB and astrocyte functions in regulating CNS responses to ionizing radiation have been limited, especially in human tissue/organ analogs. Therefore, we developed a high-throughput 3D organ-on-a-chip system to study human CNS and BBB impairments caused by deep space radiation. We investigated both immediate and delayed CNS responses to major GCR components: 0.3-0.8Gy 600MeV/n 56Fe ions; as well as to 0.5-1Gy X-rays. We observed ionizing radiation-mediated increases in BBB permeability that was exacerbated by astrocyte presence and accompanied by damage to endothelial cells and tight junctions, altered cytokine expression including TNFalpha upregulation, and increased oxidative stress. In particular, 600MeV/n 56Fe particle irradiation selectively induced astrocyte damage and increased blood-brain barrier permeability only in models that contained astrocytes in addition to endothelial cells, indicating astrocytes as a particularly radiosensitive component of the CNS that could therefore be a suitable a target for neuroprotection. Future studies will compare human and mouse CNS model responses to simulated GCRs and evaluate the induction of an anti-inflammatory phenotype in astrocytes as a potential countermeasure. Furthermore, in our lab we have been exploring the individual variability, genomic associations and secreted biomarkers of responses to space radiation, which could eventually be combined to address personalized CNS health risk and develop individual countermeasures. Ultimately, we aim to expand upon these results to uncover novel cellular and mechanistic targets for countermeasure development to mitigate human CNS damage in deep space exploration.

space radiation↗

Time-Dependent Boundary Modeling to Inform Design of SPARC Diagnostic and Actuators

The purpose of this work was to inform the design of diagnostic and actuator systems for a new experimental facility for Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), called SPARC [Creely2020], using time-dependent plasma boundary simulations with the Scrape Off Layer Plasma Simulator (SOLPS) code [Wiesen2015]. The SPARC tokamak is a device that aims to demonstrate fusion energy production and high-field plasma operating scenarios. The developed technologies will be incorporated into a net-electricity pilot that will demonstrate approximately 200MW of electric power. A major difference from other private industry fusion companies is the use of a standard aspect ratio, but at a high magnetic field strength, which provides a well-established physics basis and a modest extrapolation to reactor operation. Time-dependent simulations were used to inform the design of main-chamber plasma facing components, which are protected by feedback control of the heat and particle loads during high power operation. The simulations provide the timescales and magnitudes of plasma and neutral particle response useful for determining the position and operation of diagnostics and actuators that will enable control. The plasma response and phase-space diagrams also provide input into advanced model-based control schemes, which are envisioned for later SPARC operation. Model-based control can reduce the risk of component failure, which would require expensive in-situ repairs and the associated delays, by predicting the system response to actuators over a short time-horizon.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Correcting for Selection Biases in the Determination of the Hubble Constant from Time-Delay Cosmography

The time delay between multiple images of strongly lensed quasars has been used to infer the Hubble constant. The primary systematic uncertainty for time-delay cosmography is the mass-sheet transform (MST), which preserves the lensing observables while altering the inferred ⁠H 0 . The TDCOSMO collaboration used velocity dispersion measurements of lensed quasars and lensed galaxies to infer that mass sheets are present, which decrease the inferred H 0 by 8 per cent. Here, we test the assumption that the density profiles of galaxy–galaxy and galaxy–quasar lenses are the same. We use a composite star-plus-dark-matter mass profile for the parent deflector population and model the selection function for galaxy–galaxy and galaxy–quasar lenses. We find that a power-law density profile with an MST is a good approximation to a two-component mass profile around the Einstein radius, but we find that galaxy–galaxy lenses have systematically higher mass-sheet components than galaxy–quasar lenses. For individual systems, λ int correlates with the ratio of the half-light radius and Einstein radius of the lens. By propagating these results through the TDCOSMO hierarchical inference code, we find that H 0 is lowered by a further 3 per cent. Using a more recent measurement of velocity dispersions and our fiducial model for selection biases, we infer H 0 = 66 ± 4 (stat) ± 1 (model sys) ± 2 (measurement sys) km s -1 Mpc -1 for the TDCOSMO plus SLACS data set. The first residual systematic error is due to plausible alternative choices in modelling the selection function, and the second is an estimate of the remaining systematic error in the measurement of velocity dispersions for SLACS lenses. Accurate time-delay cosmography requires precise velocity dispersion measurements and accurate calibration of selection biases.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Micrometeorite dynamic pyrometamorphism: Observation of a thermal gradient in iron-nickel sulfide

Dynamic pyrometamorphism describes the mineralogical changes in a micrometeorite that occur in response to flash-heating during atmospheric entry. Mineral reactions during this event will be endothermic and act as local sinks for thermal energy which delays a uniform temperature distribution in decelerating micrometeorites. The most common pyrometamorphic reaction is formation of magnetite nanocrystal decorations on Mg,Fe-silicate grains and magnetite or (partial) maghemite rims. Constituent silicates also respond to this thermal event and show formation of olivine-maghemite symplectites and growth of garnet and partial laihunitisation. In continued effort to constrain dynamic pyrometamorphism of unmelted interplanetary dust particles (IDP's), I determined the mineralogical composition, and Fe,Ni-sulfide chemistry, in the sulfide-rich particles L2005C39, L2005E40, and L2006A28 using a JEOL 2000FX analytical electron microscope equipped with a TN5500 energy dispersive spectrometer for in situ microanalysis. Sulfide compositions in these three IDP's are distinctly different from those in silicate-rich particle L2005T13 which might suggest a delicate balance of the fO2/fS2 ratios during dynamic pyrometamorphism.

Rietmeijer, Frans J. M.↗

Active Control of Separation From the Flap of a Supercritical Airfoil

Active flow control in the form of periodic zero-mass-flux excitation was applied at several regions on the leading edge and trailing edge flaps of a simplified high-lift system t o delay flow separation. The NASA Energy Efficient Transport (EET) supercritical airfoil was equipped with a 15% chord simply hinged leading edge flap and a 25% chord simply hinged trailing edge flap. Detailed flow features were measured in an attempt to identify optimal actuator placement. The measurements included steady and unsteady model and tunnel wall pressures, wake surveys, arrays of surface hot-films, flow visualization, and particle image velocimetry (PIV). The current paper describes the application of active separation control at several locations on the deflected trailing edge flap. High frequency (F(+) approx.= 10) and low frequency amplitude modulation (F(+)AM approx.= 1) of the high frequency excitation were used for control. Preliminary efforts to combine leading and trailing edge flap excitations are also reported.

Melton, La Tunia Pack↗

Large scale response of the magnetosphere to a southward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field

A set of coordinated measurements obtained on March 4, 1979 in the solar wind, in the magnetotail, at geostationary orbit, in the auroral ionosphere, and on the ground has been used to conduct a detailed study of the overall magnetospheric response to a southward turning of the IMF. The change of the IMF direction is found to be associated with a delay of less than about 5 min for increasing eastward and westward electrojets, and precedes by about 10 min the beginning of a taillike deformation of the B field geometry at geostationary orbit near midnight. After the IMF reversal and before the main substorm onset, the general motion of the westward electrojet is southward. At 6.6 R(E) in the nightside, the equatorially trapped high-energy particles adiabatically respond to the local change of the B field by moving earthward. Short-lived substorms occur soon after the IMF reversal.

Sauvaud, J. A.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, December 2005

Topics covered include: Video Mosaicking for Inspection of Gas Pipelines; Shuttle-Data-Tape XML Translator; Highly Reliable, High-Speed, Unidirectional Serial Data Links; Data-Analysis System for Entry, Descent, and Landing; Hybrid UV Imager Containing Face-Up AlGaN/GaN Photodiodes; Multiple Embedded Processors for Fault-Tolerant Computing; Hybrid Power Management; Magnetometer Based on Optoelectronic Microwave Oscillator; Program Predicts Time Courses of Human/ Computer Interactions; Chimera Grid Tools; Astronomer's Proposal Tool; Conservative Patch Algorithm and Mesh Sequencing for PAB3D; Fitting Nonlinear Curves by Use of Optimization Techniques; Tool for Viewing Faults Under Terrain; Automated Synthesis of Long Communication Delays for Testing; Solving Nonlinear Euler Equations With Arbitrary Accuracy; Self-Organizing-Map Program for Analyzing Multivariate Data; Tool for Sizing Analysis of the Advanced Life Support System; Control Software for a High-Performance Telerobot; Java Radar Analysis Tool; Architecture for Verifiable Software; Tool for Ranking Research Options; Enhanced, Partially Redundant Emergency Notification System; Close-Call Action Log Form; Task Description Language; Improved Small-Particle Powders for Plasma Spraying; Bonding-Compatible Corrosion Inhibitor for Rinsing Metals; Wipes, Coatings, and Patches for Detecting Hydrazines; Rotating Vessels for Growing Protein Crystals; Oscillating-Linear-Drive Vacuum Compressor for CO2; Mechanically Biased, Hinged Pairs of Piezoelectric Benders; Apparatus for Precise Indium-Bump Bonding of Microchips; Radiation Dosimetry via Automated Fluorescence Microscopy; Multistage Magnetic Separator of Cells and Proteins; Elastic-Tether Suits for Artificial Gravity and Exercise; Multichannel Brain-Signal-Amplifying and Digitizing System; Ester-Based Electrolytes for Low-Temperature Li-Ion Cells; Hygrometer for Detecting Water in Partially Enclosed Volumes; Radio-Frequency Plasma Cleaning of a Penning Malmberg Trap; Reduction of Flap Side Edge Noise - the Blowing Flap; and Preventing Accidental Ignition of Upper-Stage Rocket Motors.

Source record↗

Neurovascular Outcomes of Space Radiation in Human Blood-Brain Barrier Models

One of the main health risks in human deep space exploration is central nervous system (CNS) damage by ionizing radiation due to exposure to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). In animal models, irradiation with simulated GCRs or their components has been shown to cause neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. The extent of CNS damage is partially mediated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which regulates the interaction between CNS and systemic responses to stressors in the rest of the body. The main cellular regulators of BBB permeability are astrocytes, which also modulate neuronal death, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. However, studies on BBB and astrocyte functions in regulating CNS responses to ionizing radiation have been limited, especially in human tissue/organ analogs. Therefore, we developed a high-throughput 3D organ-on-a-chip system to study human CNS and BBB impairments caused by deep space radiation. We investigated both immediate and delayed CNS responses to major GCR components: 0.15-0.5Gy 250MeV/n 4He and 0.3-0.8Gy 600MeV/n 56Fe; as well as to 0.5-1Gy X-rays. We observed ionizing radiation-mediated increases in BBB permeability that was exacerbated by astrocyte presence and accompanied by damage to endothelial cells and tight junctions, altered cytokine expression including TNFalpha upregulation, and increased oxidative stress. In particular, 600MeV/n 56Fe particle irradiation selectively induced astrocyte damage and increased blood-brain barrier permeability only in models that contained astrocytes in addition to endothelial cells, indicating astrocytes as a particularly radiosensitive component of the CNS that could therefore be a suitable a target for neuroprotection. Future studies will compare human and mouse CNS model responses to simulated GCRs and evaluate the induction of an anti-inflammatory phenotype in astrocytes as a potential countermeasure. Ultimately, we aim to expand upon these results to uncover novel cellular and mechanistic targets for countermeasure development to mitigate human CNS damage in deep space exploration.

centrat nervous system↗

Neurovascular Outcomes of Ionizing Radiation in Human Blood-Brain Barrier Models

One of the main health risks in human deep space exploration is central nervous system (CNS) damage by ionizing radiation due to exposure to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). In animal models, irradiation with simulated GCRs or their components has been shown to cause neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. The extent of CNS damage is partially mediated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which regulates the interaction between CNS and systemic responses to stressors in the rest of the body. The main cellular regulators of BBB permeability are astrocytes, which also modulate neuronal death, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. However, studies on BBB and astrocyte functions in regulating CNS responses to ionizing radiation have been limited, especially in human tissue/organ analogs. Therefore, we developed a high-throughput 3D organ-on-a-chip system to study human CNS and BBB impairments caused by deep space radiation. We investigated both immediate and delayed CNS responses to major GCR components: 0.15-0.5Gy 250MeV/n 4He and 0.3-0.8Gy 600MeV/n 56Fe; as well as to 0.5-1Gy X-rays. We observed ionizing radiation-mediated increases in BBB permeability that was exacerbated by astrocyte presence and accompanied by damage to endothelial cells and tight junctions, altered cytokine expression including TNFalpha upregulation, and increased oxidative stress. In particular, 600MeV/n 56Fe particle irradiation selectively induced astrocyte damage and blood-brain barrier permeability only in models that contained astrocytes in addition to endothelial cells, indicating astrocytes as a particularly radiosensitive component of the CNS that could therefore be a suitable a target for neuroprotection. Future studies will compare human and mouse CNS model responses to simulated GCRs and evaluate the induction of an anti-inflammatory phenotype in astrocytes as a potential countermeasure. Ultimately, we aim to expand upon these results to uncover novel cellular and mechanistic targets for countermeasure development to mitigate human CNS damage in deep space exploration.

space radiation↗

Thermal positive ions in the outer ionosphere and magnetosphere from Ogo 1.

Study of the positive thermal ion densities measured with a spherical electrostatic analyzer aboard OGO 1 between September and October, 1964. A high variability of charged-particle distributions is established within and beyond the plasmapause boundary. The density gradient was in an inverse relation to the plasmapause L position and was consistently about one order of magnitude higher for the afternoon sector orbits than for the nightside orbits. Irregularities of different types were observed in the positive thermal ion densities within the plasmasphere and outside it, showing no correlation with the magnetic activity level. A delay of 3 to 9 hr was observed in the movement of the plasmapause following an increase in the magnetic activity level on the nightside.

Ahmed, M.↗

Delay-Doppler radar observations of Saturn's rings

Delay-Doppler observations at 12.6 cm which have been used to estimate the relative radar reflectivities of Saturn's classical ring sections show that the A and B rings are responsible for most of the radar echo, and that the average radar reflectivity per unit of projected area of the A ring is 90% as large as the B ring. No firm evidence is found for radar backscattering from particles interior to the B ring, exterior to the A ring, of from the planet itself. Unexpectedly large amounts of power at Doppler shifts near the center of the echo spectrum, which had been reported at 3.5 and 12.6 cm for ring plane tilt angles greater than 24.4 deg are not apparent in spectra for those wavelengths obtained at ring plane tilt angles smaller than 21.4 deg.

Ostro, S. J.↗

Active Control of Separation From the Flap of a Supercritical Airfoil

Zero-mass-flux periodic excitation was applied at several regions on a simplified high-lift system to delay the occurrence of flow separation. The NASA Energy Efficient Transport (EET) supercritical airfoil was equipped with a 15% chord simply hinged leading edge flap and a 25% chord simply hinged trailing edge flap. Detailed flow features were measured in an attempt to identify optimal actuator placement. The measurements included steady and unsteady model and tunnel wall pressures, wake surveys, arrays of surface hot-films, flow visualization, and particle image velocimetry (PIV). The current paper describes the application of active separation control at several locations on the deflected trailing edge flap. High frequency (F(+) approximately equal to 10) and low frequency amplitude modulation (F(+) sub AM approximately equal to 1) of the high frequency excitation were used for control. It was noted that the same performance gains were obtained with amplitude modulation and required only 30% of the momentum input required by pure sine excitation.

Melton, LaTunia Pack↗

Few-femtosecond resolved imaging of laser-driven nanoplasma expansion

Abstract The free expansion of a planar plasma surface is a fundamental non-equilibrium process relevant for various fields but as-yet experimentally still difficult to capture. The significance of the associated spatiotemporal plasma motion ranges from astrophysics and controlled fusion to laser machining, surface high-harmonic generation, plasma mirrors, and laser-driven particle acceleration. Here, we show that x-ray coherent diffractive imaging can surpass existing approaches and enables the quantitative real-time analysis of the sudden free expansion of laser-heated nanoplasmas. For laser-ionized SiO 2 nanospheres, we resolve the formation of the emerging nearly self-similar plasma profile evolution and expose the so far inaccessible shell-wise expansion dynamics including the associated startup delay and rarefaction front velocity. Our results establish time-resolved diffractive imaging as an accurate quantitative diagnostic platform for tracing and characterizing plasma expansion and indicate the possibility to resolve various laser-driven processes including shock formation and wave-breaking phenomena with unprecedented resolution.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The radial and longitudinal propagation characteristics of substorm injections

This paper presents a statistical study of the radial and azimuthal propagation of substorm effects in the near-geosynchronous magnetotail. Data from five spacecraft (AMPTE/CCE, 1979-053, 1982-019, GOES-5, and GOES-6) have been used in the study. Since CCE has an apogee of 8.8 earth radii, those data allow for the study of both the radial and azimuthal propagation characteristics of substorm events. A list of ion injections was compiled from CCE energetic particle data obtained in 1985 and 1986. Those injections are dispersionless over an energy range of 25 to 285 keV on a 72-sec time scale. Dispersionless injections during which 1979-053 or 1982-019 were on the nightside in close longitudinal proximity to CCE were selected for the study. The most significant correlation in the data is between the local time separation between any two spacecraft and the time delay between the local onsets.

Lopez, R. E.↗

Particle acceleration in flares

Particle acceleration is intrinsic to the primary energy release in the impulsive phase of solar flares, and we cannot understand flares without understanding acceleration. New observations in soft and hard X-rays, gamma-rays and coherent radio emissions are presented, suggesting flare fragmentation in time and space. X-ray and radio measurements exhibit at least five different time scales in flares. In addition, some new observations of delayed acceleration signatures are also presented. The theory of acceleration by parallel electric fields is used to model the spectral shape and evolution of hard X-rays. The possibility of the appearance of double layers is further investigated.

Benz, Arnold O.↗

Smoothed Retarded Potentials and Fields

This note will follow the derivation of the Liénard–Wiechert potentials for a moving charge, which give the entire electromagnetic field generated by that charge including time delays, while concurrently deriving a version for a smoothed charge. The smoothed charge replaces the delta function charge density ρ ∝ δ 3 (x) by a spherically symmetric function f(|x|), so instead of a potential φ ∝ 1/ |x| for a charge at rest, the potential will be the 3D convolution of f with 1/ |x|. The smoothing will be defined in the ‘laboratory frame’ rather than the rest frame of the particle. If a spherically-symmetric distribution is required in a different rest frame, for example the averaged rest frame of a whole particle beam, the particle histories may be Lorentz boosted and the resulting fields Lorentz boosted back. Another motivation for using the lab frame is that if a beam is uniformly accelerated by an electric field, it maintains its lab frame size, rather than shrinking as a rigid object would (if the beam enters an electric field from the side, the particles maintain their time separation and the length actually increases with the beam velocity). Properly defining a charge distribution of fixed size in the changing reference frame of an accelerating particle is somewhat complicated and relates to the concept of Born rigidity.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Response of two-phase droplets to intense electromagnetic radiation

The response of two-phase droplets to intense radiant heating is studied to determine the incident power that is required for causing explosive boiling in the liquid phase. The droplets studied consist of strongly absorbing coal particles dispersed in a weakly absorbing water medium. Experiments are performed by confining droplets (radii of 37, 55, and 80 microns) electrodynamically and irradiating them from two sides with pulsed laser beams. Emphasis is placed on the transition region from accelerated droplet vaporization to droplet superheating and explosive boiling. The time scale observed for explosive boiling is more than 2 orders of magnitude longer than published values for pure liquids. The delayed response is the result of energy transfer limitations between the absorbing solid phase and the surrounding liquid.

Spann, James F.↗