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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.

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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Transport phenomena of growth-in-gel zeolite crystallization in microgravity

Secondary nucleation (SN) due to crystal sedimentation has been believed to be one of the major effects that causes smaller sizes of final zeolite crystals. The present investigation indicates that, in a reactor, this gravity-induced SN occurs only within a white opaque column termed the gel portion. Under normal gravity this portion shrinks to the bottom of the hydrothermal reactor, leaving a clear portion of solution at the top, due to depletion of the flocculated gel particles. Solution phase nucleation and crystallization is assumed and a correlation for the shrinkage is therefore derived, which shows good agreement with experimental observations. A non-dimensional parameter is suggested as a criterion for the occurrence of SN. Based on the parameter whether or not microgravity is beneficial to zeolite growth is discussed. Also, the growth mechanism and the transport phenomena in the absence of gravity are discussed.

Zhang, H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A study of the impact of the Space Shuttle environment on faint far-UV geophysical and astronomical phenomena

FAUST is a far ultraviolet (1400-1800 A) photon-counting imaging telescope featuring a wide field of view (7.6 deg) and a high sensitivity to extended emission features. During its flight as part of the ATLAS-1 payload aboard the STS-45 mission in March 1992, 19 deep-space nighttime viewing opportunities were utilized by FAUST. Here we report the observed fluxes and their time and space variations, and identify the signatures of postsunset airglow phenomena and Orbiter Vernier attitude control thruster firing events. We find that the Space Shuttle nighttime environment at 296 km altitude is often sufficiently dark to permit geophysical and astronomical UV observations down to levels on the order of 1000 photons/sq cm sr A sec, or 0.01 Rayleighs/A. We also find evidence for occasional geophysical fluxes of some tens or hundreds of Rayleighs in the upward-looking direction.

Lampton, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1993

The morphology of flare phenomena, magnetic fields, and electric currents in active regions. III - NOAA active region 6233 (1990 August)

We investigate the spatial relationship between vertical electric currents and flare phenomena in NOAA Active Region 6233, which was observed 1990, August 28-31 at Mees Solar Observatory. The two flares studied are the 1N/M1.8 flare on August 28, 22:30 UT and the 1N/M1.6 flare on August 29, 20:35 UT. Using Stokes polarimetry we make magnetograms of the region and compute the vertical current density. Using H-alpha imaging spectroscopy we identify sites of intense nonthermal electron precipitation or of high coronal pressure. The precipitation in these flares is barely strong enough to be detectable. We find that both precipitation and high pressure tend to occur near vertical currents, but that neither phenomenon is cospatial with current maxima. In contrast with the conclusion of other authors, we argue that these observations do not support a current-interruption model for flares, unless the relevant currents are primarily horizontal. The magnetic morphology and temporal evolution of these flares suggest that an erupting filament model may be relevant, but this model does not explicitly predict the relationship between precipitation, high pressure, and vertical currents.

De La Beaujardiere, J.-F.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Interfacial and capillary phenomena in solidification processing of metal-matrix composites

Chemical and hydrodynamic aspects of wetting and interfacial phenomena during the solidification processing of metal-matrix composites are reviewed. Significant experimental results on fiber-matrix interactions and wetting under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions in composites of engineering interest have been compiled, based on a survey of the recent literature. Finally, certain aspects of wetting relevant to stir-casting and infiltration processing of composites are discussed.

Asthana, R.↗
NASA NTRS1943

Some Investigations of the General Instability of Stiffened Metal Cylinders IV : Continuation of Tests of Sheet-covered Specimens and Studies of the Buckling Phenomena of Unstiffened Circular Cylinders

This is the fourth of a series of reports covering an investigation of the general instability problem by the California Institute of Technology. The first five reports of this series cover investigations of the general instability problem under the loading conditions of pure bending and were prepared under the sponsorship of the Civil Aeronautics Administration. The succeeding reports of this series cover the work done on other loading conditions under the sponsorship of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. This report is to deal primarily with the continuation of tests of sheet-covered specimens and studies of the buckling phenomena of unstiffened circular cylinders.

CYLINDERS, STEEL↗
NASA NTRS1921

Wind Tunnel Studies in Aerodynamic Phenomena at High Speed

A great amount of research and experimental work has been done and fair success obtained in an effort to place airplane and propeller design upon an empirical basis. However, one can not fail to be impressed by the apparent lack of data available toward establishing flow phenomena upon a rational basis, such that they may be interpreted in terms of the laws of physics. With this end in view it was the object of the authors to design a wind tunnel differing from the usual type especially in regard to large power and speed of flow. This report describes the wind tunnel at Mccook Field and gives the results of experiments conducted in testing the efficiency of the wind tunnel.

Caldwell, F W↗
NASA NTRS1936

Flow phenomena on plates and airfoils of short span

Investigations on the flow phenomena at plates and cambered models were carried out with the aid of force measurements, some pressure distribution measurements, and photographic observation. The experimental methods are described and the results given. Section III of this work gives a comprehensive account of the results and enables us to see how nearly the lift line and lift surface theories agree with the experimental results.

Winter, H↗
NASA NTRS1993

Visualization of solidification front phenomena

Directional solidification experiments have been utilized throughout the Materials Processing in Space Program to provide an experimental platform which minimizes variables in solidification experiments. Because of the wide-spread use of this experimental technique in space-based research, it has become apparent that a better understanding of all the phenomena occurring during solidification can be better understood if direct visualization of the solidification interface were possible.

Workman, Gary L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Unsteady Phenomena in Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interaction

A brief review is given of the unsteadiness of shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction. The focus is on interactions generated by swept and unswept compression ramps, by flares, steps and incident shock waves, by cylinders and blunt fins, and by glancing shock waves. The effects of Mach number, Reynolds number, and separated flow scale are discussed as are the physical causes of the unsteadiness. The implications that the unsteadiness has for interpreting time-average surface and flowfield data, and for comparisons of such experimental data with computation, is also briefly discussed. Finally, some suggestions for future work are given. It is clear that there are large gaps in the data base and that many aspects of such phenomena are poorly understood. Much work remains to be done.

Dolling, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Single event phenomena: Testing and prediction

Highly integrated microelectronic devices are often used to increase the performance of satellite systems while reducing the system power dissipation, size, and weight. However, these devices are usually more susceptible to radiation than less integrated devices. In particular, the problem of sensitivity to single event upset and latchup is greatly increased as the integration level is increased. Therefore, a method for accurately evaluating the susceptibility of new devices to single event phenomena is critical to qualifying new components for use in space systems. This evaluation includes testing devices for upset or latchup and extrapolating the results of these tests to the orbital environment. Current methods for testing devices for single event effects are reviewed, and methods for upset rate prediction, including a new technique based on Monte Carlo simulation, are presented.

Kinnison, James D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Analysis of phase distribution phenomena in microgravity environments

The purpose of the research presented in this paper is to demonstrate the ability of multidimensional two-fluid models for bubbly two-phase flow to accurately predict lateral phase distribution phenomena in microgravity environments. If successful, this research should provide NASA with mechanistically-based analytical methods which can be used for multiphase space system design and evaluation, and should be the basis for future shuttle experiments for model verification.

Lahey, Richard T., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Numerical analysis and modeling of atmospheric phenomena

For the past 22 years Grant NGR 22-009-727 has been supporting research in the Center for Meteorology and Physical Oceanography (and its predecessors) in a wide variety of diagnostic and modeling studies of atmospheric and ocean phenomena. Professor Jule Charney was the initial Principal Investigator. Professor Peter Stone joined him as co-Principal Investigator in 1975 and became the sole Principal Investigator in 1981. During its lifetime the Grant has supported in whole or in part 11 Master's theses, 14 Ph.D. theses, and 45 papers published in refereed scientific journals. All of these theses and papers (with bibliographic references) are listed below. All but one of the theses were used to fulfill the requirements for MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) degrees and are available from the MIT libraries. The one exception is F. Chen's Ph.D. thesis which was for a Harvard degree and is available from the Harvard libraries. In addition to the work described in the citations listed below, the Grant has supported Research Assistant Amy Solomon during the past two years to carry out a study of how baroclinic adjustment is affected by vertical resolution, vertical temperature structure, and dissipation. Ms. Solomon plans to use this project for her Ph.D. thesis. Support for this project will continue under NASA Grant NAG 5-2490, 'The Factors Controlling Poleward Heat Transport in Climate Models.'

Stone, Peter H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Analysis of phase distribution phenomena in microgravity environments

In the past one of NASA's primary emphasis has been on identifying single and multiphase flow experiments which can produce new discoveries that are not possible except in a microgravity environment. While such experiments are obviously of great scientific interest, they do not necessarily provide NASA with the ability to use multiphase processes for power production and/or utilization in space. The purpose of the research presented in this paper is to demonstrate the ability of multidimensional two-fluid models for bubbly two-phase flow to accurately predict lateral phase distribution phenomena in microgravity environments. If successful, this research should provide NASA with mechanistically-based analytical methods which can be used for multiphase space design and evaluation, and should be the basis for future shuttle experiments for model verification.

Lahey, Richard, Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Surfactant-based critical phenomena in microgravity

The objective of this research project is to characterize by experiment and theoretically both the kinetics of phase separation and the metastable structures produced during phase separation in a microgravity environment. The particular systems we are currently studying are mixtures of water, nonionic surfactants, and compressible supercritical fluids at temperatures and pressures where the coexisting liquid phases have equal densities (isopycnic phases). In this report, we describe experiments to locate equilibrium isopycnic phases and to determine the 'local' phase behavior and critical phenomena at nearby conditions of temperature, pressure, and composition. In addition, we report the results of preliminary small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments to characterize microstructures that exist in these mixtures at different fluid densities.

Kaler, Eric W.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Transport phenomena in the micropores of plug-type phase separators

This study numerically investigates the transport phenomena within and across a porous-plug phase separator. The effect of temperature differential across a single pore and of the sidewall boundary conditions, i.e., isothermal or linear thermal gradient, are presented and discussed. The effects are quantified in terms of the evaporation mass flux across the boundary and the mean surface temperature. A two-dimensional finite element model is used to solve the continuity, momentum, and energy equations for the liquid. Temperature differentials across the pore interface of 1.0, and 1.5 K are examined and their effect on evaporation flux and mean surface temperature is shown. For isothermal side boundary conditions, the evaporation flux across the pore is directly proportional and linear with Delta T. For the case of an imposed linear thermal gradient on the side boundaries, Biot numbers of 0.0, 0.15, and 0.5 are examined. The most significant effect of Biot number is to lower the overall surface temperature and evaporation flux.

Fazah, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Near-Sun solar wind consequences of solar structure and dynamic phenomena observed by radio scintillation measurements

Since radio propagation measurements using either natural or spacecraft radio signals are used for probing the solar wind in the vicinity of the sun, they represent a key tool for studying the interplanetary consequences of solar structure and dynamic phenomena. New information on the near sun consequences was obtained from radio scintillation observations of coherent spacecraft signals. The results covering density fluctuations, fractional density fluctuations, coronal streamers, heliospheric current sheets, coronal mass ejections and interplanetary shocks are reviewed. A joint ICE S-band (13 cm wavelength) Doppler scintillation measurement with the SOHO white-light coronograph (LASCO) is described.

Woo, Richard↗
NASA NTRS1993

A generalized version of the Rankine-Hugoniot relations including ionization, dissociation and related phenomena

For purposes of computing shocks in stellars atmospheres and winds we have developed a generalized version of the Rankine-Hugoniot relations including ionization, dissociation, radiation and related phenomena such as excitation, rotation and vibration of molecules. The new equations are given in analytical form. They are valid as long as the internal energy E, the total pressure P, and the first adiabatic coefficient gamma(sub 1) can be evaluated. However, we have not treated shock structures. In the case of non-LTE we have to employ an approximation for gamma(sub 1) because in that case no definition exists. Our new version of the Rankine-Hugoniot relations can easily be used for many purposes including ab-initio modeling. In our derivation we introduce a parameter gamma(sub H), which is definded as the ratio of the enthalpy H (sometimes called heat function w) to the internal energy E (sometimes called U). Using this parameter we solve the equations for changing mu and (d(natural log P)/d(natural log rho))(sub ad) identically equal to gamma(sub 1) on both sides of the shock. Both gamma(sub H) and gamma(sub 1), and also mu are functions of pressure P and temperature T. We present: (1) the derivation, (2) examples of gamma(sub 1) (P,T) and gamma(sub H) (P,T) which include/exclude ionization and radiation, and (3) as an example the differences in post-shock parameters as function of the pre-shock temperature for the case with ionization and without radiation.

Nieuwenhuijzen, H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Lower hybrid wave phenomena associated with density depletions

A fluid description of lower hybrid, whistler and magnetosonic waves is applied to study wave phenomena near the lower hybrid resonance associated with plasma density depletions. The goal is to understand the nature of lower hybrid cavitons and spikelets often associated with transverse ion acceleration events in the auroral ionosphere. Three-dimensional simulations show the ponderomotive force leads to the formation of a density cavity (caviton) in which lower hybrid wave energy is concentrated (spikelet) resulting in a three-dimensional collapse of the configuration. Plasma density depletions of the order of a few percent are shown to greatly modify the homogeneous linear properties of lower hybrid waves and account for many of the observed features of lower hybrid spikelets.

Seyler, C. E.↗