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At least 397 records · Page 22

Time Accurate Simulation of Nonequilibrium Flow Inside the NASA Ames Electric Arc Shock Tube

Numerical investigations of the flowfield inside NASA Ames' Electric Arc Shock Tube have been performed. The focus is to simulate the experiments designed to reproduce shock layer radiation layer relevant to Earth re-entry conditions. This paper assess the current computational capability in simulating time-accurate unsteady nonequilibrium flows in the presence of strong shock waves with state-of-the-art physical models. The technical approach is described with preliminary results presented for one specific flow condition. It was found that the axisymmetric source term generates a numerical instability that appears as shock bending. This instability is time dependent which greatly affects the shock speed. Post-shock conditions are discussed and compared to CEA equilibrium prediction and good agreement was obtained close to the test-section and just behind the shock.

Bensassi, Khalil↗

Computational Modeling for Non-Equilibrium Shock Tube Flows

Time accurate simulation of non-equilibrium flows inside shock tube facilities presents several challenges from both physical and mathematical aspects. Furthermore, the large computational cost makes it impractical to support a real-time experimental test campaign. In this work, we explore other methods for modeling the shock tube problem with the main focus on the post-shock region and the absolute radiation emanating from it. The proposed alternative approach is several orders of magnitude less computationally expensive while still accurate enough with regards to the quantities of interest. Excellent agreement is found with the established stagnation-line approach. Comparison with time-accurate simulations shows good agreement close to the peak values and disagreement of the temperatures relaxation and radiance profiles toward equilibrium.

Bensassi, Khalil↗

Computational Modeling for Non-equilibrium Shock Tube Flows

Time accurate simulation of non-equilibrium flows inside shock tube facilities presents several challenges from both physical and mathematical aspects. Furthermore, the drastic computational cost makes it non-practical to support real-time experimental test campaign. In this work, we explore other methods for modeling the shock tube prob- lem with the main focus on the post-shock region and the absolute radiation emanating from it. The proposed alternative approach is several orders of magnitude less computa- tionally expansive while still accurate enough with regards to the quantities of interest. Excellent agreement is found with the well-established stagnation-line approach. Comparison with the time-accurate simulation shows good agreement close to the peak values and disagreement of the temperatures relaxation and radiance profiles toward equilibrium, due to shock speed unsteadiness.

Bensassi, Khalil↗

Transient Three-Dimensional Analysis of Nozzle Side Load in Regeneratively Cooled Engines

Three-dimensional numerical investigations on the start-up side load physics for a regeneratively cooled, high-aspect-ratio nozzle were performed. The objectives of this study are to identify the three-dimensional side load physics and to compute the associated aerodynamic side load using an anchored computational methodology. The computational methodology is based on an unstructured-grid, pressure-based computational fluid dynamics formulation, and a transient inlet condition based on an engine system simulation. Computations were performed for both the adiabatic and cooled walls in order to understand the effect of boundary conditions. Finite-rate chemistry was used throughout the study so that combustion effect is always included. The results show that three types of shock evolution are responsible for side loads: generation of combustion wave; transitions among free-shock separation, restricted-shock separation, and simultaneous free-shock and restricted shock separations; along with oscillation of shocks across the lip. Wall boundary conditions drastically affect the computed side load physics: the adiabatic nozzle prefers free-shock separation while the cooled nozzle favors restricted-shock separation, resulting in higher peak side load for the cooled nozzle than that of the adiabatic nozzle. By comparing the computed physics with those of test observations, it is concluded that cooled wall is a more realistic boundary condition, and the oscillation of the restricted-shock separation flow pattern across the lip along with its associated tangential shock motion are the dominant side load physics for a regeneratively cooled, high aspect-ratio rocket engine.

Wang, Ten-See↗

Synthesis of 3-D Coronal-Solar Wind Energetic Particle Acceleration Modules

Acute space radiation hazards pose one of the most serious risks to future human and robotic exploration. Large solar energetic particle (SEP) events are dangerous to astronauts and equipment. The ability to predict when and where large SEPs will occur is necessary in order to mitigate their hazards. The Coronal-Solar Wind Energetic Particle Acceleration (C-SWEPA) modeling effort in the NASANSF Space Weather Modeling Collaborative [Schunk, 2014] combines two successful Living With a Star (LWS) (http:lws.gsfc.nasa.gov) strategic capabilities: the Earth-Moon-Mars Radiation Environment Modules (EMMREM)[Schwadron et al., 2010] that describe energetic particles and their effects, with the Next Generation Model forthe Corona and Solar Wind developed by the Predictive Science, Inc. (PSI) group. The goal of the C-WEPA effort is to develop a coupled model that describes the conditions of the corona, solar wind, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and associated shocks, particle acceleration, and propagation via physics-based modules. Assessing the threat of SEPs is a difficult problem. The largest SEPs typically arise in conjunction with X classflares and very fast (1000 kms) CMEs. These events are usually associated with complex sunspot groups(also known as active regions) that harbor strong, stressed magnetic fields. Highly energetic protonsgenerated in these events travel near the speed of light and can arrive at Earth minutes after the eruptiveevent. The generation of these particles is, in turn, believed to be primarily associated with the shock waveformed very low in the corona by the passage of the CME (injection of particles fromthe flare sitemay also playa role). Whether these particles actually reach Earth (or any other point) depends on their transport in theinterplanetary magnetic field and their magnetic connection to the shock.

exploration↗

The multiwavelength view of shocks in the fastest nova V1674 Her

Classical novae are shock-powered multiwavelength transients triggered by a thermonuclear runaway on an accreting white dwarf. V1674 Her is the fastest nova ever recorded (time to declined by two magnitudes is t 2 = 1.1 d) that challenges our understanding of shock formation in novae. We investigate the physical mechanisms behind nova emission from GeV γ-rays to cm-band radio using coordinated Fermi-LAT, NuSTAR, Swift, and VLA observations supported by optical photometry. Fermi-LAT detected short-lived (18 h) 0.1–100 GeV emission from V1674 Her that appeared 6 h after the eruption began; this was at a level of (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10 −6 photons cm −2 s −1 . Eleven days later, simultaneous NuSTAR and Swift X-ray observations revealed optically thin thermal plasma shock-heated to k $T$ shock = 4 keV. The lack of a detectable 6.7 keV Fe Kα emission suggests super-solar CNO abundances. The radio emission from V1674 Her was consistent with thermal emission at early times and synchrotron at late times. The radio spectrum steeply rising with frequency may be a result of either free-free absorption of synchrotron and thermal emission by unshocked outer regions of the nova shell or the Razin–Tsytovich effect attenuating synchrotron emission in dense plasma. The development of the shock inside the ejecta is unaffected by the extraordinarily rapid evolution and the intermediate polar host of this nova.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Impact and collisional processes in the solar system

The mechanical and thermodynamic aspects of shock impact cratering and accretionary processes on solid planets and satellites are being investigated experimentally. The recently proposed model of Melosh, describing the physics controlling the size and velocity of only lightly shocked spalled ejecta surrounding the crushed rock region of an impact crater, was studied at the Ames gun facility. Spall velocity measurements using lead and aluminum bullets were conducted. In addition, shock temperatures of silicates and volatile-bearing minerals were measured using radiative techniques. Finally impact devolatilization of minerals and accretion of planetary atmospheres were examined. Measurements of the release isentropes of CaCO3 were carried out. The effect on the water budgets of planets of reactions which occur when metallic iron (which would be present in chondritic material) is introduced into a simple accretion model is under investigation.

Ahrens, T. J.↗

Impact and Collisional Processes in the Solar System

The mechanical and thermodynamic aspects of shock impact cratering and accretionary processes on solid planets and satellites are being investigated experimentally. The recently proposed model of Melosh, describing the physics controlling the size and velocity of only lightly shocked spalled ejecta surrounding the crushed rock region of an impact crater, was studied at the Ames gun facility. Spall velocity measurements using lead and aluminum bullets were conducted. In addition, shock temperatures of silicates and volatile bearing minerals were measured using radiative techniques. Finally impact devolatilization of minerals and accretion of planetary atmospheres were examined. Measurements of the release isentropes of CaCO3 were carried out. The effect on the water budgets of planets of reactions which occur when metallic iron (which would be present in chondritic material) is introduced into a simple accretion model is under investigation.

Ahrens, T. J.↗

Adiabatic Shock Capturing in Perfect Gas Hypersonic Flows

This paper considers the streamline-upwind Petrov/Galerkin (SUPG) method applied to the compressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations in conservation-variable form. The spatial discretization, including a modified approach for interpolating the inviscid flux terms in the SUPG finite element formulation, is briefly reviewed. Of particular interest is the behavior of the shock capturing operator, which is required to regularize the scheme in the presence of strong, shock-induced gradients. A standard shock capturing operator which has been widely used in previous studies by several authors is presented and discussed. Specific modifications are then made to this standard operator which are designed to produce a more physically consistent discretization in the presence of strong shock waves. The actual implementation of the term in a finite dimensional approximation is also discussed. The behavior of the standard and modified scheme is then compared for several supersonic/hypersonic flows. The modified shock capturing operator is found to preserve enthalpy in the inviscid portion of the flowfield substantially better than the standard operator.

Kirk, Benjamin S.↗

The forward-reverse shock pair at large heliocentric distances

An unsteady one-dimensional numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model is developed in order to study the essential physical processes involved in the development of the forward-reverse shock pair in the heliosphere. In the model, MHD shocks are treated as boundary surfaces which divide the domain of interest in the r-t plane into several flow regions. The positions of the shock boundary surfaces between two neighboring flow regions are determined by shock speed. On the basis of integrations of the model, it is found that the strong MHD disturbances generated in a corotating interaction region (CIR) propagate at a fast speed relative to the moving material, and that the wave propagation speed is greater in CIR than in its surroundings. This causes disturbances in CIR to pile up and form a shock pair. The newly formed shock pair will in turn propagate outward from the leading edge to interact with ambient rarefaction regions. This interaction accounts for the double sawtooth configuration observed in velocity profiles of shock pairs. It is also demonstrated that the merging of two shocks produces a stronger shock and constant surface on its backside. Computer generated velocity profiles based on the model are presented.

Whang, Y. C.↗

Perturbation of a discontinuous transonic flow

The main difficulty in perturbing a discontinuous transonic flow is in the representation of the shift in the location of the discontinuity (shock wave). Herein presented is a method of overcoming this difficulty by using a distorted airfoil as the initial case rather than the real physical airfoil; the distortion is chosen such that the shock location is unchanged by the perturbation. The distorted airfoil is obtained by the use of a strained coordinate system. A direct consequence of the theory is the derivation of an algebraic similarity relation between related airfoils with shock waves at differing locations. Results for simple examples are shown.

Nixon, D.↗

Time Accurate Simulation of Nonequilibrium Flow inside the NASA Ames Electric Arc Shock Tube

Numerical investigations of the ow field inside NASA Ames' Electric Arc Shock Tube have been performed. The focus is to simulate the experiments designed to reproduce shock layer radiation layer relevant to Earth re-entry conditions. This paper assess the current computational capability in simulating unsteady nonequilibrium flows in the presence of strong shock waves with state-of-the-art physical models. The technical approach is described with preliminary results presented for one specific ow condition. The numerical problems encountered during the computation of these flows are detailed, along with the methods used to resolve them. Post-shock conditions are discussed and compared to CEA equilibrium prediction.

Bensassi, Khalil↗

A Shock-Refracted Acoustic Wave Model for Screech Amplitude in Supersonic Jets

A physical model is proposed for the estimation of the screech amplitude in underexpanded supersonic jets. The model is based on the hypothesis that the interaction of a plane acoustic wave with stationary shock waves provides amplification of the transmitted acoustic wave upon traversing the shock. Powell's discrete source model for screech incorporating a stationary array of acoustic monopoles is extended to accommodate variable source strength. The proposed model reveals that the acoustic sources are of increasing strength with downstream distance. It is shown that the screech amplitude increases with the fully expanded jet Mach number. Comparisons of predicted screech amplitude with available test data show satisfactory agreement. The effect of variable source strength on the directivity of the fundamental (first harmonic, lowest frequency mode) and the second harmonic (overtone) is found to be unimportant with regard to the principal lobe (main or major lobe) of considerable relative strength, and is appreciable only in the secondary or minor lobes (of relatively weaker strength).

Kandula, Max↗

A Shock Stabilization of the HLLC Riemann Solver for the Carbuncle Instability

The HLLC approximate Riemann solver improves upon the HLL Riemann solver by resolving contact discontinuities. This is a particularly desirable property for multi-material codes in which problems usually contain material interfaces. However, the HLLC solver is known to suffer from the carbuncle phenomenon, a numerical instability most apparent at grid-aligned shocks in multi-dimensional simulations. Many problems of interest, including high energy-density physics applications, require the accurate resolution of both material interfaces and hydrodynamic shocks. A variety of methods have been developed to cure this instability, with varying degrees of complexity. The objective of this work is to describe a simple approach to modify the HLLC Riemann solver and prevent the carbuncle instability. Here, the method is then demonstrated for assorted two-dimensional test problems known to exhibit the shock instability. The performance of the new solver is compared with that of the standard HLL and HLLC Riemann solvers.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Shock compression of vanadium at extremes: Theory and experiment

Here, the equation of state (EOS) and shock compression of bulk vanadium were investigated using canonical ab initio molecular dynamic simulations, with experimental validation to 865 GPa from shock data collected at Sandia's Z Pulsed Power Facility. In simulations the phase space was sampled along isotherms ranging from 3000 K to 50 000 K, for densities between ρ = 3 and 15 g / cm 3 , with a focus on the liquid regime and the body-centered-cubic phase in the vicinity of the melting limit. The principal Hugoniot predicted from first principles is overall consistent with shock data, while it showed that current multiphase SESAME-type EOS for vanadium needed revision in the liquid regime. A more accurate SESAME EOS was developed using constraints from experiments and simulations. This work emphasizes the need to use a combined theoretical and experimental approach to develop high-fidelity EOS models for extreme conditions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Thermal shock of fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites

Monolithic silicon carbide and silicon nitride and a Nicalon fiber reinforced silicon carbide composite were subjected to severe thermal shock conditions via impingement of a hydrogen-oxygen flame. Surface heating rates of 1000 C/sec to 2500 C/sec were generated. The performance of the monolithic reference materials are compared and contrasted to the significantly greater thermal shock resistance of the composite. Ultrasonic and radiographic NDE techniques were used to evaluate the integrity of the composite subsequent to thermal shock. Tensile tests were performed to determine the residual tensile strength and modulus. Physical property changes are discussed as a function of number and severity of thermal shock cycles.

Eckel, Andrew J.↗

Thermal shock fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites

Monolithic silicon carbide and silicon nitride and a Nicalon fiber reinforced silicon carbide composite were subjected to severe thermal shock conditions via impingement of a hydrogen-oxygen flame. Surface heating rates of 1000 C/sec to 2500 C/sec were generated. The performance of the monolithic reference materials are compared and contrasted to the significantly greater thermal shock resistance of the composite. Ultrasonic and radiographic NDE techniques were used to evaluate the integrity of the composite subsequent to thermal shock. Tensile tests were performed to determine the residual tensile strength and modulus. Physical property changes are discussed as a function of number and severity of thermal shock cycles.

Eckel, Andrew J.↗