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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Steady state toroidal magnetic field at earth's core-mantle boundary

Measurements of the dc electrical potential near the top of earth's mantle have been extrapolated into the deep mantle in order to estimate the strength of the toroidal magnetic field component at the core-mantle interface. Recent measurements have been interpreted as indicating that at the core-mantle interface, the magnetic toroidal and poloidal field components are approximately equal in magnitude. A motivation for such measurements is to obtain an estimate of the strength of the toroidal magnetic field in the core, a quantity important to our understanding of the geomagnetic field's dynamo generation. Through the use of several simple and idealized calculation, this paper discusses the theoretical relationship between the amplitude of the toroidal magnetic field at the core-mantle boundary and the actual amplitude within the core. Even with a very low inferred value of the toroidal field amplitude at the core-mantle boundary, (a few gauss), the toroidal field amplitude within the core could be consistent with a magnetohydrodynamic dynamo dominated by nonuniform rotation and having a strong toroidal magnetic field.

Levy, Eugene H.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Interface of an uncoupled boundary layer algorithm with an inviscid core flow algorithm for unsteady supersonic engine inlets

An uncoupled boundary layer algorithm was combined with an inviscid core flow algorithm to model flows within supersonic engine inlets. The inviscid flow algorithm that was used was the LArge Perturbation INlet Code (LAPIN). The boundary layer and inviscid core flow algorithms were formulated in different manners. The boundary layer algorithm was two dimensional and solved in nonconservation form, while the core flow algorithm was one dimensional and solved in conservation form. In order to interface the two codes, the following modifications were important. The coordinate system was set up to maintain the parabolic nature of the boundary layer algorithm while approaching the one dimensional core flow solution far from a wall. The pressure gradient used in the boundary layer equation was calculated using the core flow values and the boundary layer equations, so the boundary layer solution smoothly approached the core flow values far from the wall. Flaring was used for the advection terms perpendicular to the core flow to maintain the stability of the algorithm. With these modifications, the combined viscous/inviscid algorithm matched well with experimental observations of pressure distributions with a supersonic inlet.

Darling, Douglas↗
NASA NTRS1992

Interface of an uncoupled boundary layer algorithm with an inviscid core flow algorithm for unsteady supersonic engine inlets

An uncoupled boundary layer algorithm was combined with an inviscid core flow algorithm to model flows within supersonic engine inlets. The inviscid flow algorithm that was used was the LArge Perturbation INlet Code (LAPIN). The boundary layer and inviscid core flow algorithms were formulated in different manners. The boundary layer algorithm was two dimensional and solved in nonconservation form, while the core flow algorithm was one dimensional and solved in conservation form. In order to interface the two codes, the following modifications were important. The coordinate system was set up to maintain the parabolic nature of the boundary layer algorithm while approaching the one dimensional core flow solution far from a wall. The pressure gradient used in the boundary layer equation was calculated using the core flow values and the boundary layer equations, so the boundary layer solution smoothly approached the core flow values far from the wall. Flaring was used for the advection terms perpendicular to the core flow to maintain the stability of the algorithm. With these modifications, the combined viscous/inviscid algorithm matched well experimental observations of pressure distributions with a supersonic inlet.

Darling, Douglas↗
NASA NTRS1992

Asteroid core crystallization by inward dendritic growth

The physics of the asteroid core crystallization process in metallic asteroids is investigated, with special attention given to the initial conditions for core crystallization, the manner of crystallization, the mechanisms acting in the stirring of the liquid, and the effects of elements such as sulfur on crystallization of Fe-Ni. On the basis of theoretical considerations and the published data on iron meteorites, it is suggested that the mode of crystallization in asteroid core was different from the apparent outward concentric crystallization of the earth core, in that the crystallization of asteroidal cores commenced at the base of the mantle and proceeded inward. The inward crystallization resulted in complex dendritic growth. These dendrites may have grown to lengths of hundreds of meters or perhaps even as large as the core radius, thereby dividing the core into separate magma chambers.

Haack, Henning↗
NASA NTRS1993

Was Martian mantle wet? A possible consequence of rapid core formation

Degassing of H2O in the planetary interior possibly plays an important role in the evolution of surface environment as well as geologic activity on the terrestrial planets. Mars may be such a planet that well preserves the materials and the geologic features directly related to early evolution of H2O. H2O content in the interior of proto-Mars during accretion and also core formation were investigated. Geodetic data shows that Mars has a dense core. The existence of iron-rich core on Mars may be also supported by the depletion of siderophile elements in SNC meteorites assuming that these samples came from Mars. Isotope systematics of these meteorites indicate that the core formation occurred very early, probably concurrently with Mars formation. Considering the kinetics of metal segregation from silicate, the melting of silicate is likely to precede the core formation. Once the core formation occurs, substantial amount of gravitational energy is released and thus the planetary interior is heated. This energy may be large enough to keep the silicate material in partially molten state along with the accretional heating. Under such circumstances, the silicate melt probably migrates to the surface. Early crustal formation, therefore, is also likely to be associated with the core formation.

Kuramoto, Kiyoshi↗
NASA NTRS1993

Composition and Maturity of Apollo 16 Regolith Core 60013/14

Samples from every half-centimeter dissection interval of double drive tube 60013/14 (sections 60013 and 60014) were analyzed by magnetic techniques for Fe concentration and surface maturity parameter I(sub s)/ Fe(O), and by neutron activation for concentrations of 25 lithophile and siderophile elements. Core 60013/14 is one of three regolith cores taken in a triangular array 40-50 m apart on the Cayley plains during Apollo 16 mission to the Moon. The core can be divided into three zones based both on I(sub s)/FeO and composition. Unit A (0-44 cm depth) is compositionally similar to other soils from the surface of the central region of the site and is mature throughout, although maturity decreases with depth. Unit B (44-59 cm) is submature and compositionally more feldspathic than Unit A. Regions of lowest maturity in Unit B are characterized by lower Sm/Sc ratios than any soil obtained from the Cayley plains as a result of some unidentified lithologic component with low surface maturity. The component is probably some type of mafic anorthosite that does not occur in such high abundance in any of the other returned soils. Unit C (59-62 cm) is more mature than Unit B and compositionally equivalent to an 87: 13 mixture of soil such as that from Unit A and plagioclase such as found in ferroan anorthosite. Similar soils, but containing greater abundances of anorthosite (plagioclase), are found at depth in the other two cores of the array. These units of immature to submature soil enriched to varying degrees (compared to the mature surface soil) in ferroan anorthosite consisting of approx. 99% plagioclase are the only compositionally distinct subsurface similarities among the three cores. Each of the cores contains other units that are compositionally dissimilar to any soil unit in the other two cores. These compositionally distinct units probably derive from local subsurface blocks deposited by the event(s) that formed the Cayley plains. The ferroan anorthosite with approx. 99% plagioclase, however, must represent some subsurface lithology that is significant on the scale of tens of meters. The compositional uniformity of the surface soil (0-10 cm depth) over distances of kilometers reflects the large-scale uniformity of the plains deposits; the fine- structure reflects small-scale nonuniformity and the inefficiency of the impact-mixing process at depths as shallow as even one meter.

Korotev, Randy T.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Multiple Core Galaxies

Nuclei of galaxies often show complicated density structures and perplexing kinematic signatures. In the past we have reported numerical experiments indicating a natural tendency for galaxies to show nuclei offset with respect to nearby isophotes and for the nucleus to have a radial velocity different from the galaxy's systemic velocity. Other experiments show normal mode oscillations in galaxies with large amplitudes. These oscillations do not damp appreciably over a Hubble time. The common thread running through all these is that galaxies often show evidence of ringing, bouncing, or sloshing around in unexpected ways, even though they have not been disturbed by any external event. Recent observational evidence shows yet another phenomenon indicating the dynamical complexity of central regions of galaxies: multiple cores (M31, Markarian 315 and 463 for example). These systems can hardly be static. We noted long-lived multiple core systems in galaxies in numerical experiments some years ago, and we have more recently followed up with a series of experiments on multiple core galaxies, starting with two cores. The relevant parameters are the energy in the orbiting clumps, their relative.masses, the (local) strength of the potential well representing the parent galaxy, and the number of cores. We have studied the dependence of the merger rates and the nature of the final merger product on these parameters. Individual cores survive much longer in stronger background potentials. Cores can survive for a substantial fraction of a Hubble time if they travel on reasonable orbits.

Miller, R.H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Multiple Core Galaxies: Implications for M31

It is generally perceived that two cores cannot survive very long within the nuclear regions of a galaxy. The recent HST discovery of a double nucleus in M31 brings this question into prominence. Physical conditions in the nuclear regions of a typical galaxy help a second core survive so it can orbit for a long time, possibly for thousands of orbits. Given the nearly uniform mass density in a core, tidal forces within a core radius are compressive in all directions and help the core survive the buffeting it takes as it orbits near the center of the galaxy. We use numerical experiments to illustrate these physical principles. Modifications to the experimental method allow the full power of the experiments to be concentrated on the nuclear regions. Spatial resolution of about 0.2 parsec comfortably resolves detail within the 1.4 parsec core radius of the second, but brighter, core (P1) in M31. The same physical principles apply in other astronomical situations, such as dumbbell galaxies, galaxies orbiting near the center of a galaxy cluster, and subclustering in galaxy clusters. The experiments also illustrate that galaxy encounters and merging are quite sensitive to external tidal forces, such as those produced by the gravitational potential in a group or cluster of galaxies.

Smith, B. F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Composite Cores

Spang & Company's new configuration of converter transformer cores is a composite of gapped and ungapped cores assembled together in concentric relationship. The net effect of the composite design is to combine the protection from saturation offered by the gapped core with the lower magnetizing requirement of the ungapped core. The uncut core functions under normal operating conditions and the cut core takes over during abnormal operation to prevent power surges and their potentially destructive effect on transistors. Principal customers are aerospace and defense manufacturers. Cores also have applicability in commercial products where precise power regulation is required, as in the power supplies for large mainframe computers.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1973

A lunar core of Fe-Ni-S.

It has been proposed that lunar samples were magnetized by a field created by a lunar core of molten Fe. Low abundances of siderophile elements in lunar rocks are compatible with formation of a metallic lunar core. A molten Fe core requires that the bulk of the moon was above, or close to, the melting point, a requirement which disagrees with most models of the lunar thermal regime. A core (or perhaps a layer or pockets) of molten Fe-Ni-S, at or close to the eutectic composition would act as a lunar dynamo, and be at a temperature (approximately 1000 C) consistent with some reasonable models of lunar thermal history. The existence of a Fe-Ni-S core would also partly explain the depletion in volatile elements in lunar basalts. Such a core, occupying up to 20% of the moon's radius, requires a bulk S content for the moon of only 0.3 wt %.

Brett, R.↗
NASA NTRS1969

Comments on the feasibility of developing gas core nuclear reactors

Recent developments in the fields of gas core hydrodynamics, heat transfer, and neutronics indicate that gas core nuclear rockets may be feasible from the point of view of basic principles. Based on performance predictions using these results, mission analyses indicate that gas core nuclear rockets may have the potential for reducing the initial weight in orbit of manned interplanetary vehicles by a factor of 5 when compared to the best chemical rocket systems. In addition, there is a potential for reducing total trip times from 450 to 500 days for chemical systems to 250 to 300 days for gas core systems. The possibility of demonstrating the feasibility of gas core nuclear rocket engines by means of a logical series of experiments of increasing difficulty that ends with ground tests of full scale gas core reactors is considered.

Rom, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Thermal interaction of the core and the mantle and long-term behavior of the geomagnetic field

The effects of temperature changes at the earth's core-mantle boundary on the velocity field of the core are analyzed. It is assumed that the geomagnetic field is maintained by thermal convection in the outer core. A model for the thermal interaction of the core and the mantle is presented which is consistent with current views on the presence of heat sources in the core and the properties of the lower mantle. Significant long-term variations in the frequency of geomagnetic reversals may be the result of fluctuating temperatures at the core-mantle boundary, caused by intermittent convection in the lower mantle. The thermal structure of the lower mantle region D double prime, extending from 2700 to 2900 km in depth, constitutes an important test of this hypothesis and offers a means of deciding whether the geomagnetic dynamo is thermally driven.

Jones, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Effects of forward motion on jet and core noise

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of forward motion on both jet and core noise. Measured low-frequency noise from static-engine and from flyover tests with a DC-9-30 powered by JT8D-109 turbofan engines and with a DC-10-40 powered by JT9D-59A turbofan engines was separated into jet- and core noise components. Comparisons of the static and the corresponding in-flight jet- and core-noise components are presented. The results indicate that for the DC-9 airplane at low power settings, where core noise is predominant, the effect of convective amplification on core-noise levels is responsible for the higher in-flight low-frequency noise levels in the inlet quadrant. Similarly, it was found that for the DC-10 airplane with engines mounted under the wings and flaps and flap deflection greater than 30 degrees, the contribution from jet-flap-interaction noise is as much as 5 dB in the inlet quadrant and is responsible for higher in-flight low-frequency noise levels during approach conditions. Those results indicate that to properly investigate flight effects, it is important to consider the noise contributions from other low-frequency sources, such as the core and the jet-flap interaction.

Low, J. K. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Noble gas evidence for the depositional and irradiational history of 60010-60009 core soils

Isotopic abundances of the noble gases have been determined in grain size separates of eleven soils from different depths in the 60010-60009 double drive tube and in magnetic and plagioclase separates from a few of these soils. Data for the 60010 core are presented here. The entire core was deposited a maximum of approximately 125 m.y. ago as deduced from the Ar-38 cosmic ray exposure age of soil 60009,457. Soils in the topmost 12 cm of the core show loss of cosmogenic He-3 and Ne-21 and gain of trapped solar gases in proportion to the degree of surface reworking by micrometeorites as deduced from FMR data. A variety of compositional and irradiational evidence suggests that soils in the core were formed by mixing of three or more components during or immediately prior to core deposition less than about 125 m.y. ago. Based on cosmogenic noble gases and a variety of other data soils 60009,457 and 60010,3107 are similar (and possibly identical) to two of the end member soils which formed the mixture. More mature soils in the core, however, could not have matured in situ from these two soils because of significant differences in noble gas abundances and chemical composition.

Bogard, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Noble gas studies on grain size separates of Apollo 15 and 16 deep drill cores

A description is presented of noble gas analyses of grain-size separates of eight Apollo 15 drill-core samples over the depth range 2-80 cm. Noble gas data on grain-size separates of seven Apollo 16 drill-core samples are also reported. On the basis of the obtained results it is suggested that cosmogenic Ne and He in the Apollo 15 core material has been preferentially lost relative to cosmogenic Ar in the Apollo 15 core material in proportion to soil maturity and degree of solar irradiation. A plot of He-4/Ne-20 against Ar-40/Ar-36 demonstrates that material in the lowest 35 cm of the Apollo 16 drill core is distinct from all other analyzed samples in the core, and distinct from nearly all surface soils.

Bogard, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Core cooling by subsolidus mantle convection

Although vigorous mantle convection early in the thermal history of the earth is shown to be capable of removing several times the latent heat content of the core, a thermal evolution model of the earth in which the core does not solidify can be constructed. The large amount of energy removed from the model earth's core by mantle convection is supplied by the internal energy of the core which is assumed to cool from an initial high temperature given by the silicate melting temperature at the core-mantle boundary. For the smaller terrestrial planets, the iron and silicate melting temperatures at the core-mantle boundaries are more comparable than for the earth; the models incorporate temperature-dependent mantle viscosity and radiogenic heat sources in the mantle. The earth models are constrained by the present surface heat flux and mantle viscosity and internal heat sources produce only about 55% of the earth model's present surface heat flow.

Schubert, G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

CF6-50 Short Core Exhaust Nozzle

The General Electric CF6-50 engine nacelle was originally equipped with both fan nozzle and core nozzle thrust reversers. Many airline operators later deactivated the core reverser. Elimination of the core reverser enabled design changes to be made to help improve performance. A reduction in core nozzle length of approximately two feet was possible. This concept, defined as the Short Core Exhaust Nozzle, was evaluated in engine ground tests, including performance, acoustic, and endurance tests under the NASA/Lewis Engine Component Improvement Program. The test results verified the performance predictions from scale model tests. The Short Core Exhaust Nozzle provides an internal cruise SFC reduction of 0.9% without an increase in engine noise. The nozzle hardware successfully completed 1000 flight cycles of endurance testing with no signs of distress.

Dusa, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Effects of core perturbations on the structure of the sun

The effects of perturbing the inner part of the solar core where the hydrogen abundance has been partially depleted by nuclear burning are investigated. Small regions are mixed within the core and the evolution of the resulting luminosity and radius perturbations is followed. The sensitivity of the solar luminosity and radius to mixing events of different sizes and at different locations in the core is determined and several relationships between the luminosity and radius perturbations are examined to see if the value of one of these perturbations can be inferred from a measurement of the other. It is found that any core perturbation which alters the hydrostatic structures will immediately affect the solar luminosity and radius. The behavior of these perturbations depends on the location of the mixing event within the core. Mixing events cannot produce the decrease in the solar radius without leading to a homogeneous evolution of the solar core and/or to a prohibitively large change in the solar luminosity.

Sweigart, A. V.↗