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At least 343 records · Page 19

Oscillations of a compound drop system undergoing rotation

A compound liquid-drop system is comprised of three immiscible concentric fluids: a core fluid of density p(i) surrounded by a shell of density p(s) which is embedded in a medium of density p(o). In this analysis, the fluids are incompressible and inviscid. The effect of rotation upon the modes of oscillation of a compound drop is investigated. Rotation rate is considered as a small perturbation of the normal modes of the compound drop, thus introducing the effects of a Coriolis force and a centrifugal distortion.

Lyell, M. J.↗

Heat transfer and pressure drop performance of a finned-tube heat exchanger proposed for use in the NASA Lewis Altitude Wind Tunnel

A segment of the heat exchanger proposed for use in the NASA Lewis Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT) facility has been tested under dry and icing conditions. The heat exchanger has the largest pressure drop of any component in the AWT loop. It is therefore critical that its performance be known at all conditions before the final design of the AWT is complete. The heat exchanger segment is tested in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) in order to provide an icing cloud environment similar to what will be encountered in the AWT. Dry heat transfer and pressure drop data are obtained and compared to correlations available in the literature. The effects of icing sprays on heat transfer and pressure drop are also investigated.

Vanfossen, G. J.↗

Containerless processing of hypermonotectic and glass forming alloys using the Marshall Space Flight Center 100 meter drop tube facility

Two separate projects were carried out to study alloys whose solidification structures can be strongly influenced by the presence of a container during melting and solidifications. One project involved containerless solidification of hypermonotectic Au35Rh65 alloys. This alloy exhibits liquid immiscibility over a temperature range. It has been suggested that containerless melting might be one solution to the problem of sedimentation in the dispersions of immiscible liquid phases. However, surface tension driven flows could also lead to accumulation of the minority liquid phase at the external surface of a containerlessly melted alloy. The research underway is a first step in determining the influence of containerless, microgravity processing on immiscible alloys. Nickel-niobium alloys were studied using the drop tube facility. One alloy in this system, a Ni60Nb40 alloy, is a good candidate for the formation of a bulk metallic glass. Amorphous alloys of this composition were produced using thin film and mechanical alloying techniques. However, theory indicates that if heterogeneous nucleation can be avoided, it should be possible to produce an amorphous structure in this system using a moderate cooling rate from the melt. The containerless melting and solidification capabilities of the drop tube faciltiy provide ideal conditions for a study of this type. To date, several Ni60Nb40 samples have been levitated, melted and cooled during 4.6 seconds of free fall in the 100 meter drop tube. Structures obtained are discussed.

Andrews, J. B.↗

Surface film effects on drop tube undercooling studies

The effects of various gaseous atmospheric constituents on drop-tube solidified samples of elemental metals were examined from a microstructural standpoint. All specimens were prepared from the purest available elements, so effects of impurities should not account for the observed effects. The drop-tube gas has a definite effect on the sample microstructure. Most dramatically, the sample cooling rate is effected. Some samples receive sufficient cooling to solidify in free fall while others do not, splating at the end of the drop tube in the sample catcher. Gases are selectively absorbed into the sample. Upon solidification gas can become less soluble and as a result forms voids within the sample. The general oxidation/reduction characteristics of the gas also affect sample microstructures. In general, under the more favorable experimental conditions including reducing atmospheric conditions and superheatings, examination of sample microstructures indicates that nucleation has been suppressed. This is indicated by underlying uniform dendrite spacings throughout the sample and with a single dendrite orientation through most of the sample. The samples were annealed yielding a few large grains and single or bi-crystal samples were commonly formed. This was especially true of samples that were inadvertently greatly superheated. This is in contrast with results from a previous study in which surface oxides were stable and contained numerous sites of nucleation. The number of nucleation events depends upon the surface state of the specimen as determined by the atmosphere and is consistent with theoretical expectations based upon the thermodynamic stability of surface oxide films. Oxide-free specimens are characterized by shiny surfaces, with no observable features under the scanning electron microscope at 5000X.

Ethridge, E. C.↗

Experimental study of the oscillations of a rotating drop

Two- and three-lobed oscillations of a rotating liquid drop immersed in an immiscible fluid of comparable density and the same angular velocity were studied experimentally. Using acoustically suspended drops, it has been found that the relative change in the resonance frequencies of the axisymmetric drop-shape oscillations Delta omega-l/omega-l(0) is proportional to the square of the normalized angular speed (Omega/omega-l/0)-squared when omega-l greater than 2 Omega. This is in agreement with a recent analytical study of the same problem. Some preliminary results regarding the effect of rotation on the free-decay rate of the two-lobed oscillations are also presented.

Annamalai, P.↗

Equilibrium shapes of acoustically levitated drops

The quantitative determination of the shape of liquid drops levitated in an ultrasonic standing wave has provided experimental data on the radiation pressure-induced deformations of freely suspended liquids. Within the limits of small deviations from the spherical shape and small drop diameter relative to the acoustic wavelength, an existing approximate theory yields a good agreement with experimental evidence. The data were obtained for millimeter and submillimeter drops levitated in air under 1 g, where g is the sea level gravitational acceleration.

Trinh, E. H.↗

Three-dimensional trajectory analyses of two drop sizing instruments - PMS OAP and PMS FSSP

Flow-induced distortions of water drop fluxes and speeds as seen by the PMS optical array probe (OAP) and the PMS forward scattering spectrometer probe (FSSP) are estimated via three-dimensional flow and trajectory calculation methods. The sensitivities of the instruments to water drop diameter, angle of attack, and free stream air speed are determined. The instruments are first placed in isolation and then mounted under the wing of a Twin Otter airplane. For the wing-mounted OAP at 4-deg angle of attack, partial flow stagnation under the uptilted wing causes a significant decrease in both the flux and speed for small water drops. For the wing-mounted FSSP, sensitivity is found to both angle of attack and free stream air speed.

Norment, H. G.↗

Electrostatic Liquid-Drop-Levitation System

Electrostatic levitator has levitated drops of liquid up to 4 mm in diameter while maintaining spherical drop shapes. Stable levitation of spherical drops valuable in experiments involving super-cooling, solidification, and crystal growth.

Rhim, Won Kyu↗

Controlling Vapor Pressure In Hanging-Drop Crystallization

Rate of evaporation adjusted to produce larger crystals. Device helps to control vapor pressure of water and other solvents in vicinity of hanging drop of solution containing dissolved enzyme protein. Well of porous frit (sintered glass) holds solution in proximity to drop of solution containing protein or enzyme. Vapor from solution in frit controls evaporation of solvent from drop to control precipitation of protein or enzyme. With device, rate of nucleation limited to decrease number and increase size (and perhaps quality) of crystals - large crystals of higher quality needed for x-ray diffraction studies of macromolecules.

Carter, Daniel C.↗

Critical point wetting drop tower experiment

Experiments with the wetting behavior of immiscible fluids against the container below the critical temperature are being performed in the MSFC Drop Tower Facility. Microgravity conditions extending up to three seconds (of the 4.5 second drop) are generated for the experiment. Specimens consist of glass cylindrical ampoules partially filled with fluid phases. How the fluids develop the meniscus geometry as well as hot the fluid interfaces respond to the microgravity induced oscillations is recorded during the experiment with on-board cameras. Drops are made at various temperatures to determine the interfacial energy variation as a function of temperature.

Kaulker, William F.↗

Undercooling of bulk high temperature metals in the 100 meter drop tube

The 100-meter drop tube at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center provides an excellent opportunity to study the effects of containerless, microgravity processing in metals and alloys. In a series of experiments high melting temperature pure metals were melted in an electron beam furnace and dropped in vacuum. Sample sizes ranged from 0.175 to 1.2 grams. Large undercoolings on the order of 18 percent of the melting temperature were observed in Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Rh, Ta, and Pt. Undercoolings of 5 to 18 percent T(m) were observed in Ru and Ir. These undercooling results are consistent, repeatable, and occur in a high percentage of experiments. The experimental technique will be presented as well as the resultant microstructures of undercooled drops. The data will be discussed with respect to nucleation theory.

Hofmeister, William↗

The dissolution or growth of a gas bubble inside a drop in zero gravity

The radius-time history of a gas bubble located concentrically within a spherical liquid drop in a space laboratory is analyzed within the framework of the quasi-stationary approximation. Illustrative results are calculated from the theory which demonstrate interesting qualitative features. For instance, when a pure gas bubble dissolves within a liquid drop in an environment containing the same gas and some inert species, the dissolution can be more or less rapid than that in an unbounded liquid depending on the initial relative size of the drop. Further, given a similar growth situation, indefinite growth is not possible, and the bubble will initially grow, but always dissolve in the end.

Kondos, Pericles A.↗

Experimental and theoretical analysis of the rate of solvent equilibration in the hanging drop method of protein crystal growth

The principles of the hanging-drop method of crystal growth are discussed, and the rate of water evaporation in a water droplet (containing protein, buffer, and a precipitating agent) suspended above a well containing a double concentration of precipitating agent is investigated theoretically. It is shown that, on earth, the rate of evaporation may be determined from diffusion theory and the colligative properties of solutions. The parameters affecting the rate of evaporation include the temperature, the vapor pressure of water, the ionization constant of the salt, the volume of the drop, the contact angle between the droplet and the coverslip, the number of moles of salt in the droplet, the number of moles of water and salt in the well, the molar volumes of water and salt, the distance from the droplet to the well, and the coefficient of diffusion of water vapor through air. To test the theoretical equations, hanging-drop experiments were conducted using various reagent concentrations in 25-microliter droplets and measuring the evaporation times at 4 C and 25 C. The results showed good agreement with the theory.

Fowlis, William W.↗

Instrumentation and data acquisition electronics for free-flight drop model testing

This paper presents instrumentation and data acquisition electronics techniques used in free-flight drop model testing at the NASA Langley Research Center. Free-flight drop model testing is a technique for conducting complex aircraft controls research using reduced scale models of experimental aircraft. An introduction to the Free-Flight Drop Model Program is presented first. This is followed by a description of the recently upgraded airborne and ground based instrumentation and data acquisition electronics. Lastly current and future development efforts and opportunities are discussed.

Carraway, Preston I., III↗

Turbulence And Evaporation In Clusters Of Drops

Report presents theoretical model of evaporation of cluster of drops of single-component liquid fuel in and of processes of exchange between cluster and gas surrounding it. Formulation of model has three components: description of conservation of mass, molecular species, and enthalpy in sphere of influence of each drop; description of conservation of mass, molecular species, and enthalpy in cluster volume; description of convective effects by use of differential equations expressing conservation of momentum for gases and drops. Results obtained from analysis show turbulence enhances evaporation and controlling factor in evaporation of very dense clusters. Practical implication of findings evaporation of fuel controlled more readily near fuel injector than farther along combustor.

Bellan, Josette↗

Model Of Turbulent Gas Eddies Containing Drops

Report proposes development of mathematical model of turbulent eddy of gas containing drops of liquid fuel. Closely related to those described in "Turbulence and Evaporation in Clusters of Drops" (NPO-17323) and "Effects of Turbulence on Ignition" (NPO-17335). Goal to initiate development of theory of interactions of several eddies containing drops during evaporation, ignition, and combustion of liquid fuels injected into combustors. Numerical results of analysis given as plot of nondimensionalized evaporation time versus initial ratio of air mass to fuel mass.

Bellan, Josette↗

Spray drop size and velocity measurements using the Phase/Doppler Particle Analyzer

Detailed measurements of the drop size and velocity distributions were obtained for a swirl chamber pressure atomizer. These data were obtained with the Phase/Doppler Particle Analyzer manufactured by Aerometrics, Inc. Direct measurements of the size distributions revealed the evolving characteristics of the spray. Size velocity correlations were used to evaluate the effect of velocity relaxation on the size distributions. The simultaneous measurement of drop size and velocity was of major importance in accurately describing the changes in the local drop size distributions and mass flux.

Bachalo, W. D.↗

On the wind force needed to dislodge a drop adhered to a surface

The dislodging by dynamic pressure forces of a drop adhered by surface tension to a plane is considered. The method involves the numerical solution of the integrodifferential equation describing the drop shape and the obtaining of the critical Weber number as a function of contact angle hysteresis. The study assumes high-Reynolds-number free-streamline separation from the drop.

Durbin, Paul A.↗