Instrumentation for two phase metallic flows
Instrumentation for measuring pressure drop and void fractions in metal liquid-vapor flows
TWO-PHASE FLOW↗
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Conductivity of a Copper-Carbon Covetic Composite
NASA is currently engaged in the development of highly electrically conductive wire for space and aviation power and propulsion applications. Higher levels of electrical conductivity and lower densities compared to copper and aluminum are needed to improve the efficiency of commercial aviation and space flight. Carbon, in various forms, is being considered as a component in composites to increase conductivity and decrease density in Cu and Al. One form of carbon that is currently receiving much interest is known as covectic. The technology currently known as covetics was first introduced by Shugart and Scherer whose patents claimed "Carbon can be incorporated into any of these metals by melting the metal, mixing the carbon into the molten metal and, while mixing, applying a current of sufficient amperage to the molten mixture such that the carbon becomes incorporated into the metal, thereby forming a single phase metal-carbon material." It is reported that in this process a conversion reaction occurs with the carbon forming covalent bonds with the host metal, and that covetic processing enables higher carbon solubility and improvements in properties. Although there is a growing body of work supporting covetic materials, it is still a very new and somewhat controversial field. Composition, density, and electrical conductivity measurements of a covetically processed alloy ingot of Cu and C, with a nominal composition of Cu-0.4wt.% C, were made. A pure Cu ingot was similarly processed for comparison. Sections of these ingots were worked into wire and tested. Only small amounts of C could be detected in the Cu-0.4wt.% C ingot, and trace amounts (0.006 wt.%) in the wire. All wires had densities very close to the full density of pure Cu, indicating a high level of Cu purity and low void fraction. Finally, the electrical conductivity of the Cu-0.4wt.% C wires were 9% lower than the samples similarly processed but without C additions. The wires made without C additions had conductivities approximately equal to pure Cu. The low conductivity of the Cu-0.4wt.% C material is believed to be due to: (1) a structure of interfaces in the wire created by collapsed voids lined with elemental C, (2) impurities, such as Fe in the Cu, which came from the added C, and (3) a small volume fraction of voids.
Degroh, Henry C.↗
Ground-Based Gas-Liquid Flow Research in Microgravity Conditions: State of Knowledge
During the last decade, ground-based microgravity facilities have been utilized in order to obtain predictions for spacecraft system designers and further the fundamental understanding of two-phase flow. Although flow regime, pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient data has been obtained for straight tubes and a limited number of fittings, measurements of the void fraction, film thickness, wall shear stress, local velocity and void information are also required in order to develop general mechanistic models that can be utilized to ascertain the effects of fluid properties, tube geometry and acceleration levels. A review of this research is presented and includes both empirical data and mechanistic models of the flow behavior.
McQuillen, J.↗
Infusion Processing of Phenylethynyl Terminated Imides by High Temperature RTM and VARTM
Fabrication of composite structures using infusion processes such as resin transfer molding (RTM) and vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) is generally more affordable than conventional autoclave techniques. Recent efforts have focused on adapting both technologies for the fabrication of high temperature (HT) resistant composites. Due to their low melt viscosity and long melt stability, certain phenylethynyl terminated imides (PETI) can be processed into composites using these high temperature out-of-autoclave processes. In the current study, two PETI resins, LARC(TradeMark) PETI-330 and LARC(TradeMark) PETI-8 have been used to make test specimens using both RTM and VARTM. For aerospace applications, a void fraction of less than 2% is desired. Traditionally, RTM has had the advantage over VARTM for generating composites with low void content. However, the process is limited in terms of size. Work at NASA LaRC has incorporated modifications to the thermal cycle used in laminate fabrication that have reduced the void content significantly (typically 1-3%) using the current HT-VARTM process. For composite fabrication by both RTM and VARTM, the resins were infused into three carbon fiber preforms (T650-35-3k 5HS, IM7-6k 5HS, and IM7-6k Uniweave) at 316 C and 260 C respectively and cured up to 371 C. The details of the RTM processing carried out at the University of Akron are discussed in this work along with a brief description of the HT-VARTM processing carried out at NASA-LaRC. Photomicrographs of the panels were taken and void contents were determined by acid digestion. Mechanical properties (short beam shear, SBS) of the panels fabricated by both infusion processes were determined at room temperature as well as at various elevated temperatures. The results of this work are presented herein.
Ghose, Sayata↗
An Assessment of Helium Evolution from Helium-Saturated Propellant Depressurization in Space
Helium evolution from the transfer of helium-saturated propellant in space is quantified to assess its impacts from creating two-phase gas/liquid flow from the supply tank, gas injection into the receiving tank, and liquid discharge from the receiving tank. Propellant transfer takes place between two similar tanks whose maximum storage capacity is approximately 2.55 cubic meters each. The maximum on-orbit propellants transfer capability is 9000 lbm (fuel and oxidizer). The transfer line is approximately 1.27 cm in diameter and 6096 cm in length and comprised of the fluid interconnect system (FICS), the orbiter propellant transfer system (OPTS), and the International Space Station (ISS) propulsion module (ISSPM). The propellant transfer rate begins at approximately 11 liter per minute (lpm) and subsequently drops to approximately 0.5 lpm. The tank nominal operating pressure is approximately 1827 kPa (absolute). The line pressure drops for Monomethy1hydrazine (MMH) and Nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) at 11.3 lpm are approximately 202 kPa and 302 kPa, respectively. The pressure-drop results are based on a single-phase flow. The receiving tank is required to vent from approximately 1827 kPa to a lower pressure to affect propellant transfer. These pressure-drop scenarios cause the helium-saturated propellants to release excess helium. For tank ullage venting, the maximum volumes of helium evolved at tank pressure are approximately 0.5 ft3 for MMH and 2 ft3 for NTO. In microgravity environment, due to lack of body force, the helium evolution from a liquid body acts to propel it, which influences its fluid dynamics. For propellant transfer, the volume fractions of helium evolved at line pressure are 0.1% by volume for MMH and 0.6 % by volume for NTO at 11.3 lpm. The void fraction of helium evolved varies as an approximate second order power function of flow rate.
Nguyen, Bich N.↗
Characterization of voids formed during liquid impregnation of nonwoven multifilament glass networks as related to composite processing
A technique based on matching the refractive index of an invading liquid to that of a fiber mat was used to study entrapment of air ('voids') that occurs during forced in-plane radial flow into nonwoven multifilament glass networks. The usefulness of this technique is demonstrated in quantifying and mapping the air pockets. Experiments with a series of fluids with surface tensions varying from 28 x 10(exp -3) to 36 x 10(exp -3) N/m, viscosities from 45 x 10(exp -3) to 290 x 10(exp -3) Pa.s, and inlet flow rates from 0.15 x 10(exp -6) to 0.75 x 10(exp -6) m(exp 3)/s, showed that void content is a function of the capillary number characterizing the flow process. A critical value of capillary number, Ca = 2.5 x 10(exp -3), identifies a zone below which void content increases exponentially with decreasing capillary number. Above this critical value, negligible entrapment of voids is observed. Similar experiments carried out on surface treated nonwoven mats spanning a range of equilibrium contact angles from 20 deg to 78 deg showed that there is a critical contact angle above which negligible entrapment is observed. Below this value, there is no apparent effect of contact angle on the void fraction - capillary number relationship described earlier. Studies on the effect of filament wettability, and fluid velocity and viscosity on the size of the entrapment (voids) were also carried out. These indicate that larger sized entrapments which envelop more than one pore are favored by a low capillary number in comparison to smaller, pore level bubbles. Experiments were carried out on deformed mats - imposing high permeability spots at regular intervals on a background of low permeability. The effect of these spatial fluctuations in heterogeneity of the mat on entrapment is currently being studied.
Mahale, Anant D.↗
Phenylethynyl Terminated Imide (PETI) Composites Made by High Temperature Vartm
The use of composites as primary structures on aerospace vehicles has increased dramatically over the past decade. As these advanced structures increase in size and complexity, their production costs have grown significantly. A major contributor to these manufacturing costs is the requirement of elevated pressures, during high temperature processing, to create fully consolidated composite parts. Recently, NASA Langley has licensed a series of low viscosity Phenyl Ethynyl Terminated Imide, PETI, oligomers that possess a wide processing window to allow for Resin Transfer Molding, RTM, processing. These resins, PETI-8 and PETI-330, demonstrate void fractions of approx.1% under elevated pressure consolidation. However, when used with a standardized thermal curing cycle in a High Temperature Vacuum Assisted RTM (HT-VARTM) process, they display undesirable void contents in excess of 7%. It was determined previously that under the thermal cycles used for laminate fabrication, the phenylethynyl endcap underwent degradation leading to volatile evolution. Modifications to the processing cycle used in the laminate fabrication have reduced the void content significantly (typically less than 3%) for carbon fiber biaxially woven fabric. For carbon fiber uniaxial fabric, void contents of less than 2% have been obtained using both PETI-8 and PETI-330. The resins were infused into carbon fiber preforms at 260 C and cured between 316 C and 371 C. Photomicrographs of the panels were taken and void contents were determined by acid digestion. Mechanical properties of the panels were determined at both room and elevated temperatures. These include short beam shear and flexure tests. The results of this work are presented herein.
Ghose, Sayata↗
Phenylethynyl Terminated Imide (PETI) Composites Made by High Temperature VARTM
Fabrication of composite structures using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) is generally more affordable than conventional autoclave techniques. Recent efforts have focused on adapting VARTM for the fabrication of high temperature composites. Due to their low melt viscosity and long melt stability, certain phenylethynyl terminated imides (PETI) can be processed into composites using high temperature VARTM (HT-VARTM). However, one of the disadvantages of the current HT-VARTM resin systems has been the high porosity of the resultant composites. For aerospace applications, a void fraction of <2% is desired. In the current study, two PETI resins, LARC. PETI-330 and LARC. PETI-8 have been used to fabricate test specimens using HT-VARTM. The resins were infused into carbon fiber preforms at 260 C and cured between 316 and 371 C. Photomicrographs of the panels were taken and void contents were determined by acid digestion. Modifications to the thermal cycle used in the laminate fabrication have reduced the void content significantly; typically .3% for carbon fiber biaxially woven fabric and less than 2% for carbon fiber uniaxial fabric. Mechanical properties (short beam shear and flexure) of the panels were determined at both room and elevated temperatures. The results of this work are presented herein. This paper is declared a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
Chose, Sayata↗
High Temperature VARTM of Phenylethynyl Terminated Imides (PETI) Resins
Fabrication of composite structures using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) is generally more affordable than conventional autoclave techniques. Recent efforts have focused on adapting VARTM for the fabrication of high temperature composites. Due to their low melt viscosity and long melt stability, certain phenylethynyl terminated imides (PETI) can be processed into composites using high temperature VARTM (HT-VARTM). However, one of the disadvantages of the current HT-VARTM resin systems has been the high porosity of the resultant composites. For aerospace applications a void fraction of less than 2% is desired. In the current study, two PETI resins, LARCTM PETI-330 and LARCTM PETI-8 have been used to fabricate test specimens using HT-VARTM. The resins were infused into carbon fiber preforms at 260 C and cured between 316 C and 371 C. Modifications to the thermal cycle used in the laminate fabrication have reduced the void content significantly (typically < 3%) for carbon fiber biaxially woven fabric. Photomicrographs of the panels were taken and void contents were determined by acid digestion. For carbon fiber uniaxial fabric, void contents of less than 2% have been obtained using both PETI-8 and PETI-330. Mechanical properties of the panels were determined at both room and elevated temperatures. These include short beam shear and flexure tests. The results of this work are presented herein.
Ghose, Sayata↗
High Temperature VARTM of Phenylethynyl Terminated Imides
Fabrication of composite structures using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) is generally more affordable than conventional autoclave techniques. Recent efforts have focused on adapting VARTM for the fabrication of high temperature composites. Due to their low melt viscosity and long melt stability, certain phenylethynyl terminated imides (PETI) can be processed into composites using high temperature VARTM (HT-VARTM). However, one of the disadvantages of the current HT-VARTM resin systems has been the high porosity of the resultant composites. For aerospace applications, the desired void fraction of less than 2% has not yet been achieved. In the current study, two PETI resins, LaRC PETI-330 and LaRC PETI-8 have been used to make test specimens using HT-VARTM. The resins were infused into ten layers of IM7-6K carbon fiber 5-harness satin fabric at 260 C or 280 C and cured at 371 C. Initial runs yielded composites with high void content, typically greater than 7% by weight. A thermogravimetric-mass spectroscopic study was conducted to determine the source of volatiles leading to high porosity. It was determined that under the thermal cycle used for laminate fabrication, the phenylethynyl endcap was undergoing degradation leading to volatile evolution. By modifying the thermal cycle used in laminate fabrication, the void content was reduced significantly (typically approximately 3%). Densities of the composites were determined using a density gradient column and the glass transition temperatures of the cured composites were measured by dynamic mechanical analysis. Photomicrographs of the panels were taken and void contents were determined by acid digestion. The results of this work are presented herein.
Cano, Roberto J.↗
High Temperature VARTM of Phenylethynyl Terminated Imides
Depending on the part type and quantity, fabrication of composite structures using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) can be more affordable than conventional autoclave techniques. Recent efforts have focused on adapting VARTM for the fabrication of high temperature composites. Due to their low melt viscosity and long melt stability, certain phenylethynyl terminated imides (PETI) can be processed into composites using high temperature VARTM (HT-VARTM). However, one of the disadvantages of the current HT-VARTM resin systems has been the high porosity of the resultant composites. For aerospace applications, the desired void fraction of less than 2% has not yet been achieved. In the current study, two PETI resins, LaRC PETI-330 and LaRC PETI-8 have been used to make test specimens using HT-VARTM. The resins were infused into ten layers of IM7-6K carbon fiber 5-harness satin fabric at 260 C or 280 C and cured at temperature up to 371 C. Initial runs yielded composites with high void content, typically greater than 7% by weight. A thermogravimetric-mass spectroscopic study was conducted to determine the source of volatiles leading to high porosity. It was determined that under the thermal cycle used for laminate fabrication, the phenylethynyl endcap was undergoing degradation leading to volatile evolution. This finding was unexpected as high quality composite laminates have been fabricated under higher pressures using these resin systems. The amount of weight loss experienced during the thermal cycle was only about 1% by weight, but this leads to a significant amount of volatiles in a closed system. By modifying the thermal cycle used in laminate fabrication, the void content was significantly reduced (typically ~ 3% or less). The results of this work are presented herein.
Ghose, Sayata↗
Rheology of Foam Near the Order-Disorder Transition
The first part of our research results are summarized in the recent journal publication: J. Gregory McDaniel and R. Glynn Holt, 'Measurement of aqueous foam rheology by acoustic levitation', Phys. Rev. E 61, 2204 (2000). This aspect of the work was a combination of experiment and analysis. We built a levitation system capable of acoustically levitating small samples of aqueous foam of arbitrary gas and liquid volume fractions. We then modulated the acoustic field to induce normal mode oscillations of the foam samples. The observables from the experiment were frequency and mode number. For dry (roughly > 70% gas by volume) foams and small deformations, we developed an effective medium, normal-modes analysis which took the frequency and mode number from experiment, and gave us the shear elastic modulus of the foam as a function of Poisson's ratio. The second part of our results may be found in a soon-to-be submitted manuscript 'Dynamics of aqueous foam drops', I.Sh. Akhatov, J.G. McDaniel and R.G. Holt, describing our modeling in the wet foam limit by considering the acoustic problem. This aspect of the research is purely theoretical. Beginning from a mass-conserving mixture law, the fully nonlinear equations of motion for a wet (roughly < 10% gas by volume) foam drop of initially spherical shape were derived. The frequencies for normal mode oscillations were derived in the linear inviscid limit. The nonlinear equations were numerically solved to elicit the motion of a foam drop under acoustic excitation. The role of the time-varying void fraction in breathing-mode oscillations is of particular interest. As of the end of the current (NAG#3-2121) grant, this work was not yet concluded. We continue to work on this aspect in order to extend the analysis to cover the transition regime of gas volume fractions, as well as to compare to experiments in the wet regime.
Holt, R. Glynn↗
Buoyancy effects on forced-convective boiling.
Gravity and buoyancy effects on slip ratio, void fraction, flow model and boiling heat transfer
HEAT TRANSFER↗
Effective thermal conductivity of dry and liquid-saturated sintered fiber metal wicks
Dry and water-saturated sintered fiber metal wick thermal conductivity, obtaining semiempirical correlations for solid and fluid phases and void fraction
Berenson, P. J.↗
Bubbly flow model for the dynamic characteristics of cavitating pumps
The recent experimental transfer matrices obtained by Ng and Brennen (1978) for some axial flow pumps revealed some dynamic characteristics which were unaccounted for by any existing theoretical analysis; their visual observations suggested that the bubbly cavitating flow in the blade passages could be responsible for these effects. A theoretical model of the dynamic response of this bubbly blade-passage flow is described in the present paper. Void-fraction fluctuations in this flow result not only from pressure fluctuations but also because the fluctuating angle of attack causes fluctuations in the rate of production of bubbles near the leading edge. The latter causes kinematic waves which interact through the boundary conditions with the dynamic waves caused by pressure fluctuation. The resulting theoretical transfer functions which results are in good qualitative agreement with the experiments; with appropriate choices of two parameters good quantitative agreement is also obtained. The theoretical model also provides one possible explanation of the observation that the pump changes from an essentially passive dynamic element in the absence of cavitation to a progressively more active element as the extent of cavitation increases.
Brennen, C.↗
Acoustic velocities of two-phase mixtures of cryogenic fluids
Calculated values of the acoustic velocity are presented for single-component and two-component, two-phase mixtures. Three different analytic models were employed. For purposes of comparison, all three models were used in making acoustic-velocity calculations for single-component, equivalent bubbly two-phase mixtures (with insoluble gas) of oxygen and helium and hydrogen and helium. In all cases the results are shown graphically so that the effects of variation in quality or void fraction, temperature and pressure are illustrated.
Griggs, E. I.↗
Structure of nonevaporating sprays. II - Drop and turbulence properties
This is the second part of a study reporting structure measurements in the dilute portion of axisymmetric nonevaporating sprays. Measurements are compared with predictions of three typical methods for analyzing sprays: (1) locally homogeneous flow (LHF) analysis, where slip between the phases is neglected; (2) deterministic separated flow (DSF) analysis, where slip is considered but effects of drop interactions with turbulence are ignored; and (3) stochastic separated flow (SSF) analysis, where both slip and effects of drop interactions with turbulence are considered. This part of the study reports measurements of mean and fluctuating drop velocities, the variation of Sauter mean diameter, and gas-phase turbulence properties in the dilute portion of the sprays. Best agreement between predictions and measurements was obtained with the SSF analysis. For present measurements in the dilute region (void fraction greater than 99.1 percent), effects of drops on gas-phase turbulence properties (turbulence modulation) were small. However, as the dense spray regions near the injector were approached, the measurements indicated modification of turbulence properties by drop motion.
Solomon, A. S. P.↗
Buoyancy effects on smoldering combustion
The effect of buoyancy on the rate of spread of a concurrent smolder reaction through a porous combustible material is investigated theoretically and experimentally. In the experiments, buoyant forces are controlled by varying the density difference, and the smolder rate spread through porous alpha cellulose (0.83 void fraction) is measured as a function of the ambient air pressure. The smolder velocity is found to increase with the ambient pressure; extinction occurs when the buoyancy forces cannot overcome the drag forces, indicating that diffusion by itself cannot support the spread of a smolder reaction. Theoretical predictions are found to be in good qualitative agreement with the experimental results.
Dosanjh, S.↗