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At least 721 records · Page 40

Large amplitude MHD waves upstream of the Jovian bow shock: Reinterpretation

Observations of large amplitude magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves upstream of the Jovian bow shock were previously interpreted as arising from a resonant electromagnetic ion beam instability. That interpretation was based on the conclusion that the observed fluctuations were predominantly right elliptically polarized in the solar wind rest frame. Because it was noted that the fluctuations are, in fact, left elliptically polarized, a reanalysis of the observations was necessary. Several mechanisms for producing left hand polarized MHD waves in the observed frequency range were investigated. Instabilities excited by protons appear unlikely to account for the observations. A resonant instability excited by relativistic electrons escaping from the Jovian magnetosphere is a likely source of free energy consistent with the observations. Evidence for the existence of such a population of electrons was found in both the Low Energy Charged Particle experiments and Cosmic Ray experiments on Voyager 2.

Goldstein, M. L.↗

Large-amplitude MHD waves upstream of the Jovian bow shock Reinterpretation

Observations of large amplitude magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves upstream of the Jovian bow shock were previously interpreted as arising from a resonant electromagnetic ion beam instability. That interpretation was based on the conclusion that the observed fluctuations were predominantly right elliptically polarized in the solar wind rest frame. Because it was noted that the fluctuations are, in fact, left elliptically polarized, a reanalysis of the observations was necessary. Several mechanisms for producing left hand polarized MHD waves in the observed frequency range were investigated. Instabilities excited by protons appear unlikely to account for the observations. A resonant instability excited by relativistic electrons escaping from the Jovian magnetosphere is a likely source of free energy consistent with the observations. Evidence for the existence of such a population of electrons was found in both the Low Energy Charged Particle experiments and Cosmic Ray experiments on Voyager 2.

Goldstein, M. L.↗

Ionospheric electron density irregularities observed by satellite-to-satellite, dual-frequency, low-low Doppler tracking link

A low-low, satellite-to-satellite, dual-frequency, Doppler tracking experiment was performed. The data are analyzed here for irregularities in electron density at the altitude of 212 km. The differential Doppler data with the relative motion term removed are integrated to obtain a representation of the electron density variation along the satellite path. Well-known large-scale features such as the equatorial geomagnetic anomaly and day/night ionization level differences are clearly observed in the integrated data. The larger crest of the morning geomagnetic anomaly is seen to occur in the southern (winter) hemisphere in agreement with previous observations. In addition, a sharp peak in the electron density at the day-to-night transition point is observed in two consecutive revolutions. This effect may be due to the previously postulated atmospheric shock wave generated by supersonic motion of the terminator.

Estes, R. D.↗

Rapid activation of non-oriented mechanophores via shock loading and spallation

Mechanophores (MPs), stimuli-responsive molecules that respond chromatically to mechanochemical reactions, are important for understanding the coupling between mechanics and chemistry as well as in engineering applications. However, the atomic-level understanding of their activation originates from gas phase studies or under simple linear elongation forces directly on molecules or polymer chains containing MPs. The effect of many-body distortions, pervasive in condensed-phase applications, is not understood. Therefore, we performed large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a poly(methyl methacrylate)-spiropyran copolymer under dynamic mechanical loading and studied the activation of the MP under various conditions from dynamical compression to tension during unloading. Detailed analysis of the all-atom MD trajectories shows that the MP blocks experience significant many-body intramolecular distortion that can significantly decrease the activation barrier as compared with when deformation rates are slow relative to molecular relaxation time scales. Here we find that the reactivity of MPs under material compression states is governed by many-body effects of intramolecular torsions, whereas under tension, the reactions are governed by tensile stresses.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

An Investigation of Cavity Vortex Generators in Supersonic Flow

The purpose of this report is to document the results of experiments performed at the University of Kansas and at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) into the use of shaped cavities to generate vortices in supersonic flow, as well as the progress made in simulating the observed flow using the PAB3D flow solver. The investigation was performed on 18 different cavity configurations installed in a convergent-divergent nozzle at the Jet Exit Facility at the LaRC. Pressure sensitive paint, static-pressure ports, focusing Schliern, and water tunnel flow visualization techniques were used to study the nature of the flow created by these cavities. The results of these investigations revealed that a shaped cavity can generate a pair of counter-rotating streamwise vortices in supersonic flow by creating weak, compression Mach waves and weak shocks. The PAB3D computer program, developed at the LaRC, was used to attempt to reproduce the experimental results. Unfortunately, due to problems with matching the grid blocks, no converged results were obtained. However, intermediate results, as well as a complete definition of the grid matching problems and suggested courses of actions are presented.

Hazlewood, Richard↗

Chondrites and the Protoplanetary Disk, Part 2

Contents include the following: On the Dynamical Evolution of a Nebula and Its Effect on Dust Coagulation and the Formation of Centimeter-sized Particles. The Mineralogy and Grain Properties of the Disk Surfaces in Three Herbig Ae/Be Stars. Astrophysical Observations of Disk Evolution Around Solar Mass Stars. The Systematic Petrology of Chondrites: A Consistent Approach to Assist Classification and Interpretation. Understanding Our Origins: Formation of Sun-like Stars in H II Region Environments. Chondrule Crystallization Experiments. Formation of SiO2-rich Chondrules by Fractional Condensation. Refractory Forsterites from Murchison (CM2) and Yamato 81020 (CO3.0) Chondrites: Cathodoluminescence, Chemical Compositions and Oxygen Isotopes. Apparent I-Xe Cooling Rates of Chondrules Compared with Silicates from the Colomera Iron Meteorite. Chondrule Formation in Planetesimal Bow Shocks: Physical Processes in the Near Vicinity of the Planetesimal. Genetic Relationships Between Chondrules, Rims and Matrix. Chondrite Fractionation was Cosmochemical; Chondrule Fractionation was Geochemical. Chondrule Formation and Accretion of Chondrite Parent Bodies: Environmental Constraints. Amoeboid Olivine Aggregates from the Semarkona LL3.0 Chondrite. The Evolution of Solids in Proto-Planetary Disks. New Nickel Vapor Pressure Measurements: Possible Implications for Nebular Condensates. Chemical, Mineralogical and Isotopic Properties of Chondrules: Clues to Their Origin. Maximal Size of Chondrules in Shock-Wave Heating Model: Stripping of Liquid Surface in Hypersonic Rarefied Gas Flow. The Nature and Origin of Interplanetary Dust: High Temperature Components. Refractory Relic Components in Chondrules from Ordinary Chondrites. Constraints on the Origin of Chondrules and CAIs from Short-lived and Long-lived Radionuclides. The Genetic Relationship Between Refractory Inclusions and Chondrules. Contemporaneous Chondrule Formation Between Ordinary and Carbonaceous Chondrites. Chondrules and Isolated Grains in the Fountain Hills Bencubbinite. Implications of Chondrule Formation in a Gas of Solar Composition. Implications of Meteoritic Cl-36 Abundance for the Origin of Short-lived Radionuclides in the Early Solar System. Size Sorting and the Chondrule Size Spectrum. Comparative Study of Refractory Inclusions from Different Groups of Chondrites. In Situ Investigation of Mg Isotope Distributions in an Allende CAI by Combined LA-ICPMS and SIMS Analyses Photochemical Speciation of Oxygen Isotopes in the Solar Nebula.

Source record↗

Some Experiences with High Order Discretization Schemes for Compressible Fluid Flow

It is widely recognized that the structure and complexity of compressible fluid flow places high demands on numerical discretization techniques for the fluid flow equations. Fluid flows arising in external aerodynamics often contain both flow field discontinuities and fluid boundary-layers. Both must be accurately resolved to provide useful information to aerodynamic design and analysis engineers. These accuracy requirements motivated the present author to examine a class of finite-volume techniques on arbitrary triangulated domains based on linear or quadratic reconstruction of integral-averaged data followed by upwind flux function evaluation and small time evolution. More recently, we have considered some new upwind techniques which yield compact discretizations while maintaining higher order accuracy. In the mini-symposium talk we will discuss both of these techniques as well as demonstrate the relative merits of each method by computing a number of aerodynamic flows containing shock waves and boundary-layers.

Barth, Timothy J.↗

Isopropanol dehydration reaction rate kinetics measurement using H 2 O time histories

H 2 O formation during thermal decomposition of isopropanol was measured behind reflected shock waves at temperatures ranging from 1127 to 1621 K at an average pressure of 1.42 atm using a laser absorption technique. Of the five modern chemical kinetics models used to compare the H 2 O time histories, the model from Li et al (Combust. Flame 2019;207:171-185) showed the best overall agreement. Sensitivity and rate of production analyses using the Li et al model (as well as those from AramcoMech 3.0, CRECK, and Togbe et al (Energy Fuel. 2011;25:676-683)) showed unimolecular dehydration of isopropanol, iC 3 H 7 OH ⇌ H 2 O + C 3 H 6 (R1), is nearly the sole reaction controlling H2O production at early times, allowing for an a priori measurement of the forward rate constant k 1 . The Arrhenius expression k1 (s –1 ) = 2.60 × 10 13 exp(-31 120 K/T) was determined to represent best the data from this study. According to the models and previous experimental investigations, the pressure investigated is well within the high-pressure limit (HPL) for this reaction. Additional, higher-pressure experiments also confirmed the HPL assumption. An uncertainty analysis was performed by varying secondary reactions within their uncertainties and examining their effect on the overall prediction, establishing an uncertainty within ±20% for all but the highest temperature cases, which have a maximum uncertainty of ±40%. Experiments conducted with a radical trapper, toluene, showed little influence from radical chemistry, suggesting this estimated uncertainty is fairly conservative. Experimental data from Heyne et al (Z Phys Chem. 2015;229:881-907) were found to be in good agreement with the rate measurements from this study and, therefore, a second Arrhenius expression, k 1 (s –1 ) = 2.11 × 10 13 exp(-30 820 K/T), was found to represent both datasets well. This second expression has a larger temperature range of 976-1621 K. Here the present study provides the first high-temperature data collected for this reaction, adding to the limited data available for isopropanol in the literature.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Seeding Mechanism for High-Pressure Nozzles

NASA tests new launch and entry vehicle configurations in wind tunnels, where flow visualizations and quantitative flow field measurements are often desired. Some of these vehicles have rocket motors for propulsion, retro-propulsion, or reaction control. Unseeded,high-pressure air is often used to simulate these rocket motor plumes. However, it is difficult to make off-body measurements in these regions, for several reasons. First, the plumes themselves are usually unseeded and at such low pressures that the flow velocity cannot currently be measured. Second, the plumes displace seeded tunnel air, preventing measurements such as laser sheet visualizations. Third, they force shock waves ahead of the vehicle, which melts the ice crystal fog commonly used for many visualization and measurement techniques. The Virginia Tech Advanced Propulsion and Power Lab has designed and tested a novel method for seeding the flow in these small-scale, high-pressure nozzles to allow quantitative measurement with a particle-based measurement such as particle image velocimetry (PIV). The method involves a Venturi contraction to draw the seed liquid out of a reservoir and into the nozzle channel, wherein shearing forces atomize the seed into particles. The concept was tested with a laser sheet visualization, which showed the nozzle spray pattern and the controllability of the seeding flow rate. This relatively inexpensive and simple technique may prove useful in wind tunnel experiments involving particle-based laser diagnostics and small, high-pressure nozzles.

particle image velocimetry↗

Theoretical analysis of a rotating two-phase detonation in liquid rocket motors.

A nonlinear analysis to study tangential mode shock instabilities in a thin annular chamber is carried out by employing a one dimensional two phase detonation wave as a reaction model. It is assumed that phase change and reaction take place only within the wave, which is treated as a discontinuity. The annulus is unrolled and the flow is considered as two dimensional with the coordinate system fixed on the wave front. Between waves, the flow is assumed to be isentropic with no interaction between droplets and burned gases. Jump conditions across the wave are solved for two phase flow. The average pressure along the injection plate is related to the design chamber pressure by the use of overall conservation equations. The wave strength is written in terms of the design parameters of the chamber. The results compare favorably with existing experiments. Finally, the effects of drop size on the wave strength are discussed and a simple criterion which sets the lower limit of validity for this strong wave analysis, is presented.

Shen, P. I.-W.↗

Comparison of calculated and measured velocities near the tip of a model rotor blade at transonic speeds

The ability of the ROT22 code to predict accurately the transonic flow field in the crucial region around and beyond the tip of a high speed rotor blade was assessed. The computations were compared with extensive laser velocimetry measurements made at zero advance ratio and tip Mach numbers of 0.85, 0.88, 0.90, and 0.95. The comparison between theory and experiment was made using 300 scans for the three orthogonal velocity components covering a volume having a height of over one blade chord, a width of nearly two chords, and a length ranging from about 1 to 1.6 chords, depending on the tip speeds. The good agreement between the calculated and measured velocities established the ability of the code to predict the off blade flow field at high tip speeds. This supplements previous comparisons where surface pressures were shown to be well predicted on two different tips at advance ratios to 0.45, especially at the critical 90 deg azimuth blade position. These results demonstrate that the ROT22 code can be used with confidence to predict the important tip region flow field including the occurrence, strength, and location of shock waves causing high drag and noise.

Tauber, M. E.↗

Theoretical research program to study chemical reactions in AOTV bow shock tubes

The main focus was the development, implementation, and calibration of methods for performing molecular electronic structure calculations to high accuracy. These various methods were then applied to a number of chemical reactions and species of interest to NASA, notably in the area of combustion chemistry. Among the development work undertaken was a collaborative effort to develop a program to efficiently predict molecular structures and vibrational frequencies using energy derivatives. Another major development effort involved the design of new atomic basis sets for use in chemical studies: these sets were considerably more accurate than those previously in use. Much effort was also devoted to calibrating methods for computing accurate molecular wave functions, including the first reliable calibrations for realistic molecules using full CI results. A wide variety of application calculations were undertaken. One area of interest was the spectroscopy and thermochemistry of small molecules, including establishing small molecule binding energies to an accuracy rivaling, or even on occasion surpassing, the experiment. Such binding energies are essential input to modeling chemical reaction processes, such as combustion. Studies of large molecules and processes important in both hydrogen and hydrocarbon combustion chemistry were also carried out. Finally, some effort was devoted to the structure and spectroscopy of small metal clusters, with applications to materials science problems.

Taylor, Peter R.↗

Mesoscale Computational Investigation of Shocked Heterogeneous Materials with Application to Large Impact Craters

The propagation of shock waves through target materials is strongly influenced by the presence of small-scale structure, fractures, physical and chemical heterogeneities. Pre-existing fractures often create craters that appear square in outline (e.g. Meteor Crater). Reverberations behind the shock from the presence of physical heterogeneity have been proposed as a mechanism for transient weakening of target materials. Pre-existing fractures can also affect melt generation. In this study, we are attempting to bridge the gap in numerical modeling between the micro-scale and the continuum, the so-called meso-scale. To accomplish this, we are developing a methodology to be used in the shock physics hydrocode (CTH) using Monte-Carlo-type methods to investigate the shock properties of heterogeneous materials. By comparing the results of numerical experiments at the micro-scale with experimental results and by using statistical techniques to evaluate the performance of simple constitutive models, we hope to embed the effect of physical heterogeneity into the field variables (pressure, stress, density, velocity) allowing us to directly imprint the effects of micro-scale heterogeneity at the continuum level without incurring high computational cost.

Crawford, D. A.↗

Mesoscale shock structure in particulate composites

Multiscale experiments in heterogeneous materials and the knowledge of their physics under shock compression are limited. Here, this study examines the multiscale shock response of particulate composites comprised of soda-lime glass particles in a PMMA matrix using full-field high speed digital image correlation (DIC) for the first time. Normal plate impact experiments, and complementary numerical simulations, are conducted at stresses ranging from 1.1 - 3.1 GPa to elucidate the mesoscale mechanisms responsible for the distinct shock structure observed in particulate composites. The particle velocity from the macroscopic measurement at continuum scale shows a relatively smooth velocity profile, with shock thickness decreasing with an increase in shock stress, and the composite exhibits strain rate scaling as the second power of the shock stress. In contrast, the mesoscopic response was highly heterogeneous, which led to a rough shock front and the formation of a train of weak shocks traveling at different velocities. Additionally, the normal shock was seen to diffuse the momentum in the transverse direction, affecting the shock rise and the rounding-off observed at the continuum scale measurements. The numerical simulations indicate that the reflections at the interfaces, wave scattering, and interference of these reflected waves are the primary mechanisms for the observed rough shock fronts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Predictions of F-111 TACT aircraft buffet response and correlations of fluctuating pressures measured on aluminum and steel models and the aircraft

Results of buffet research that was conducted as part of the joint USAF/NASA F-111 TACT Research Program are presented. The correlation of wind tunnel and flight measurements of buffet excitation showed that there generally was good agreement between measurements of pressure fluctuations on the models and aircraft in regions of separated flow. At shock-wave boundaries of the separated flow, correlations of pressure fluctuations were not so good, due to Reynolds number and static elastic effects. The buffet prediction method, which applies a forcing function that is obtained by real-time integration of pressure time histories with the natural modes, is described. The generalized forces, including the effects of wing and tail, correlations of predicted and measured damping, and correlations of predicted and measured buffet response are presented. All presented data are for a Mach number of 0.8 with wing-sweep angles of 26 and 35 deg for a range of angles-of-attack that include buffet onset to high intensity buffeting. Generally, the buffet predictions were considered to be quite good particularly in light of past buffet-prediction experience.

Coe, Charles F.↗

Transients following the loss of detonation confinement

We present a theory for the evolution of a one-dimensional, steady-state detonation reaction zone to a two-dimensional reaction zone, when the explosive experiences a sudden loss of side-on confinement as a boundary of the explosive is impulsively withdrawn. Our focus is on condensed-phase explosives, which we describe as having a constant adiabatic gamma equation of state and an irreversible, state-independent reaction rate. We consider two detonation models: (i) the instantaneous reaction heat release Chapman–Jouguet (CJ)-limit and (ii) the spatially resolved reaction heat-release Zel’dovich–von Neumann–Döring (ZND) model, in the limit where only a small fraction of the energy release is resolved (the SRHR-limit). Two competing rarefaction waves are generated by this loss of confinement: (i) a smooth wave coming off the full length of the withdrawn boundary and (ii) a singular fan spreading out from the point where the detonation shock and the withdrawn boundary meet. For the CJ-limit, in all cases the singular rarefaction fan eventually dominates the competition to control the steady-state behaviour. For the SRHR-limit, the spatially resolved heat release moderates this competition. When the withdrawal speed is fast, the rarefaction fan dominates; when the withdrawal speed is slower, the smooth rarefaction eventually dominates, although the flow features a fan at early times. By examining the mathematical properties of the steady two-dimensional fan-based solution, we set down a mechanism for this transition in behaviours.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Statistical characterization of a shock interacting with an inclined gas column

We present a statistical characterization of the interaction between a planar shock and a finite-diameter, cylindrical column of dense gas based on three-dimensional, large-eddy simulation results. In the simulation, the column of gas is initially inclined at an angle $\alpha _0$ with respect to the shock plane. Effects of the initial column angle on the mixing characteristics are examined at Mach number 2.0 for column incline angles $1^\circ$ , $5^\circ$ , $10^\circ$ and $30^\circ$ . Mean velocity profiles show that the column angle affects the gas velocity components in the vertical plane, but not in the spanwise direction. The gas undergoes higher initial upward acceleration at larger initial column incline angles. With time, the gas motion tends to become one-dimensional in the streamwise direction. Initially, velocity fluctuations are most intense within the interior of the column, but concentrate near the column leading edge over time. At high wavenumbers $\kappa$ , the turbulent kinetic energy spectra follow a power-law scaling of $\kappa ^{-1}$ . The structure functions of the mass fraction do not clearly demonstrate power-law scaling except at early times for $\alpha _0=30^\circ$ , manifesting overall trends very similar to those observed in earlier experiments. Probability distributions of the mass fraction show independence of the mean and the standard deviation of the mixed gas on $\alpha _0$ . The column angle was also found to have little effect on the mixing efficiency characterized by the molecular mixedness. Velocity components in the streamwise and transverse directions tend towards a bimodal distribution for larger $\alpha _{0}$ .

42 ENGINEERING↗

Dynamic Strength of Iron at High Pressures and Strain Rates

Accurate modeling of meteorite impacts, and deformation of planetary cores require characterization of the flow strength and in-elasticity of iron in its different phases. In this letter, we investigate the flow strength of both the ambient α-phase and high-pressure ϵ-phase of iron at strain-rates of 1 × 10 5 s –1 and pressures up to 42 GPa using high pressure - pressure shear plate impact experiments. We report the strength of the ϵ-iron to be significantly higher than α-phase but consequently one order smaller than the previously reported dynamic strength at high pressures. As a result, the complete stress-strain response of the ϵ-phase is reported for the first time.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗