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At least 829 records · Page 46

A B-B-G-K-Y framework for fluid turbulence

A kinetic theory for fluid turbulence is developed from the Liouville equation and the associated BBGKY hierarchy. Real and imaginary parts of Fourier coefficients of fluid variables play the roles of particles. Closure is achieved by the assumption of negligible five-coefficient correlation functions and probability distributions of Fourier coefficients are the basic variables of the theory. An additional approximation leads to a closed-moment description similar to the so-called eddy-damped Markovian approximation. A kinetic equation is derived for which conservation laws and an H-theorem can be rigorously established, the H-theorem implying relaxation of the absolute equilibrium of Kraichnan. The equation can be cast in the Fokker-Planck form, and relaxation times estimated from its friction and diffusion coefficients. An undetermined parameter in the theory is the free decay time for triplet correlations. Some attention is given to the inclusion of viscous damping and external driving forces.

Montgomery, D.↗

An X-ray shadowgraph to locate transient high-energy celestial sources

A new technique has been developed to locate strong, transient X-ray sources such as the recently discovered gamma ray bursts. The instrument, termed a shadowgraph, locates sources by detecting the X-ray shadow cast by a large occulting mask pattern on an imaging detector. Angular resolutions of from 2 to 10 arc minutes are obtainable while essentially full sky coverage is maintained. The optimum energy range of operation is between 20 keV and 100 keV. The high efficiency X-ray imaging detectors, which make it possible to locate bursts with intensities down to approximately 10 photons/sq cm sec, are capable of detecting single 20 keV photons with a spatial resolution of approximately 0.2 mm. The detectors consist of an X-ray to optical conversion phosphor, a multistage image intensifier, and a CCD image readout.

Fishman, G. J.↗

Developments in convective heat transfer models featuring seamless and selected detail surfaces, employing electroless plating

Several model/instrument concepts employing electroless metallic skin were considered for improvement of surface condition, accuracy, and cost of contoured-geometry convective heat transfer models. A plated semi-infinite slab approach was chosen for development and evaluation in a hypersonic wind tunnel. The plated slab model consists of an epoxy casting containing fine constantan wires accurately placed at specified surface locations. An electroless alloy was deposited on the plastic surface that provides a hard, uniformly thick, seamless skin. The chosen alloy forms a high-output thermocouple junction with each exposed constantan wire, providing means of determining heat transfer during tunnel testing of the model. A selective electroless plating procedure was used to deposit scaled heatshield tiles on the lower surface of a 0.0175-scale shuttle orbiter model. Twenty-five percent of the tiles were randomly selected and plated to a height of 0.001-inch. The purpose was to assess the heating effects of surface roughness simulating misalignment of tiles that may occur during manufacture of the spacecraft.

Stalmach, C. J., Jr.↗

A vector-dyadic development of the equations of motion for N-coupled flexible bodies and point masses

The equations of motion for a system of coupled flexible bodies, rigid bodies, point masses, and symmetric wheels were derived. The equations were cast into a partitioned matrix form in which certain partitions became nontrivial when the effects of flexibility were treated. The equations are shown to contract to the coupled rigid body equations or expand to the coupled flexible body equations all within the same basic framework. Furthermore, the coefficient matrix always has the computationally desirable property of symmetry. Making use of the derived equations, a comparison was made between the equations which described a flexible body model and those which described a rigid body model of the same elastic appendage attached to an arbitrary coupled body system. From the comparison, equivalence relations were developed which defined how the two modeling approaches described identical dynamic effects.

Frisch, H. P.↗

Direct observation of small cluster mobility and ripening

Direct evidence is reported for the simultaneous occurrence of Ostwald ripening and short-distance cluster mobility during annealing of discontinuous metal films on clean amorphous substrates. The annealing characteristics of very thin particulate deposits of silver on amorphized clean surfaces of single crystalline thin graphite substrates were studied by in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) under controlled environmental conditions (residual gas pressure of 10 to the minus 9th power torr) in the temperature range from 25 to 450 C. Sputter cleaning of the substrate surface, metal deposition, and annealing were monitored by TEM observation. Pseudostereographic presentation of micrographs in different annealing stages, the observation of the annealing behavior at cast shadow edges, and measurements with an electronic image analyzing system were employed to aid the visual perception and the analysis of changes in deposit structure recorded during annealing. Slow Ostwald ripening was found to occur in the entire temperature range, but the overriding surface transport mechanism was short-distance cluster mobility.

Heinemann, K.↗

The effect of microstructure and strength on the fracture toughness of an 18 Ni, 300 grade maraging steel

A 300 grade maraging steel was chosen as a vehicle by which to understand the inverse relationship between strength and toughness in high strength alloys such as the 18 Ni maraging steels. The 18 Ni, 300 grade maraging material was a commercial grade consumable-electrode, vacuum arc remelted heat obtained in the form of forged and annealed plate. The matrix contained a population of second-phase impurity inclusions which was a product of the casting and hot working processes. These inclusions did not change with subsequent precipitation hardening. Changes in microstructure resulting in strength increases were brought about by variations in aging temperature and time. Maximum strength was attained in the 300 grade maraging steel by aging at 427 C (800 F) for 100 hours. Tensile, fatigue precracked Charpy impact, and plane-strain fracture toughness tests were performed at room temperature, 20 C (68 F). With increasing strength the fracture toughness decreases as smaller and smaller inclusions act as sites for void initiation.

Psioda, J. A.↗

Thermal stresses in chemically hardening elastic media with application to the molding process

A method has been formulated for the determination of thermal stresses in materials which harden in the presence of an exothermic chemical reaction. Hardening is described by the transformation of the material from an inviscid liquid-like state into an elastic solid, where intermediate states consist of a mixture of the two, in a ratio which is determined by the degree of chemical reaction. The method is illustrated in terms of an infinite slab cast between two rigid mold surfaces. It is found that the stress component normal to the slab surfaces vanishes in the residual state, so that removal of the slab from the mold leaves the remaining residual stress unchanged. On the other hand, the residual stress component parallel to the slab surfaces does not vanish. Its distribution is described as a function of the parameters of the hardening process.

Levitsky, M.↗

Thin films for X-ray astronomy

A method is described for casting the commercial plastic known as Formvar directly on the surface of water and building up the desired thickness by a lamination of several layers. The thin, plastic films obtained can be used for the entrance window in the proportional counters normally used as X-ray detector in rocket-borne astrophysical experiments. Attention is given to three films, each of which has been flown several times on Aerobee sounding rockets.

Williamson, F.↗

Materials and processes for space shuttle's engines

It is pointed out that over 50 different alloys are used in construction of the space shuttle main engines (SSME). Primary construction of the SSME is by welding or brazing of wrought and cast components. Welding processes involve both gas tungsten-arc welds and electron-beam welds. Electroforming has been developed as a process to fabricate and bond structural members for the SSME. Important aspects in the selection of materials and processes are related to weight saving considerations and the high-pressure hydrogen environment. Special problems and their solution in the case of various engine components are discussed, giving attention to the oxidizer preburner, the high pressure oxidizer turbopump, and the heat exchanger.

J. R. Lewis↗

Surfaces and interfaces of glass and ceramics; Proceedings of the International Symposium on Special Topics in Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, N.Y., August 27-29, 1973

The characterization of surfaces and interfaces is considered along with the infrared spectra of several N-containing compounds absorbed on montmorillonites, applications of surface characterization techniques to glasses, the observation of electronic spectra in glass and ceramic surfaces, a method for determining the preferred orientation of crystallites normal to a surface, and the friction and wear behavior of glasses and ceramics. Attention is given to the wear behavior of cast surface composites, an experimental investigation of the dynamic and thermal characteristics of the ceramic stock removal process, a dynamic elastic model of ceramic stock removal, and the structure and properties of solid surfaces. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Frechette, V. D.↗

Finite-element solution for a combined radiative-conductive analysis with mixed diffuse-specular surface characteristics

The finite-element method has been applied to solve a combined radiative-conductive heat transfer problem for a large space telescope similar to those used in orbiting satellites. The derivation of the underlying matrices and associated solution algorithm for a 2-D triangular element is presented in detail. The resulting expressions for this triangular element typify such an analysis, which yields constitutive matrices when the heat equation is cast in the matrix form. The relevant matrices include those pertaining to thermal conductance, internal heat generation, radiative exchanges, and all possible external thermal loadings. Emphasis is placed on the treatment of non-linear radiative interchange between surfaces in an enclosure having mixed diffuse-specular surface characteristics. Essential differences in governing equations describing these distinctive surface characteristics are identified. Concluding remarks are drawn from an example simulating a Cassegrainian space telescope.

Lee, H.-P.↗

Fused silica reflecting heat shields for outer planet entry probes

The development of slip-cast fused silica is discussed as a heat shield designed to meet the needs of outer-planet entry probes. The distinguishing feature of silica is its ability to reflect the radiation imposed by planetary-entry environments. This reflectivity is particularly sensitive to degradation by the presence of trace amounts of contaminants introduced by the starting materials or by processing. The microstructure of a silica configuration also significantly influences the reflectivity and other thermomechanical properties. The processing techniques attendant on controlling microstructure while maintaining purity are discussed. The selection of a starting material of essential purity precludes the use of purified natural quartz and requires the use of synthetic fused silica. The silica is characterized in a limited combined heating test environment. The surface mass loss is controlled by liquid runoff from a relatively low-temperature melt layer; the reflectance is basically maintained and the material achieves a surprisingly high heat of ablation.

Congdon, W. M.↗

The auxiliary problem for feasible directions

The present work compares the computational efficiency of two means of determining a direction vector S at constraint boundaries and demonstrates the advantages of using the alternative that formulates the S-determination subproblem with a single quadratic constraint, which in turn can be cast as a special linear problem and solved directly.

Gwin, L. B.↗

Deformation characteristics and time-dependent notch sensitivity of Udimet 700 at intermediate temperatures

Time-dependent notch sensitivity of Udimet 700 sheet, bar, and investment castings was observed between 1000 and 1400 F (538-760 C) but not at 1600 F (871 C). As was the case for Modified Waspaloy, Waspaloy, Rene 41, Inconel 718, and TD-NiCr, it occurred when notched specimens were loaded below the yield strength and when creep deformation was localized. For each gamma-prime strengthened alloy and notched specimen geometry, a stress-average particle size zone can be defined to characterize the notch-sensitive behavior.

Wilson, D. J.↗

FCAP - A new tool for the evaluation of active control technology

A computer program has been developed for the evaluation of flight control systems designed for flexible aircraft. This Flight Control Analysis Program (FCAP) is designed in a modular fashion to incorporate sensor, actuator, and control logic element dynamics as well as aircraft dynamics and aerodynamics for complex configurations. Formulation of the total aircraft dynamic system is accomplished in matrix form by casting the equations in state vector format. The system stability and performance are determined in either the frequency or time domain using classical analysis techniques. The aerodynamic method used also permits evaluation of the flutter characteristics of the aircraft.

Noll, R. B.↗

Electromagnetic levitation facility incorporating electron beam

An electromagnetic levitation apparatus incorporating an electron beam for auxiliary heating and melting has been developed for experiments on containerless vacuum purification and undercooled solidification of high melting materials. Stable levitation of 10-g specimens of molten tungsten has been achieved and a variety of containerless solidification experiments is being performed, including pure polycrystalline castings and single tungsten crystals grown from the undercooled levitated melts.

Wouch, G.↗

Thermal fatigue-and-oxidation-resistant alloy

Cast nickel-base alloy designated as NASA TAZ-8A has been developed for use in high temperature aircraft engine components. TAZ-8A composition is 8Ta, 6Cr, 6A1, 4Mo, 4W, 2Cb, 0.5Zr, 0.125C, 0.004B, and balance Ni (weight percent). Its specific gravity at room temperature is 8.65.

Bizon, P. T.↗

Skylab M551 metals melting experiment

The objectives of the M551 Metals Melting Experiment were to: (1) study behavior of molten metal, (2) characterize metals melted and solidified in the low gravity space environment compared to one-gravity of earth, and (3) determine feasibility of joining metals in space. The experiment used the electron beam (EB) and chamber of the M512 apparatus to make a dwell puddle and a melt in a rotating disc of varying thickness. Hence, the EB performed cut-through, full and partial penetration melts, in addition to a resolidified button. The three disc materials were aluminum 2219-T87, 304 stainless steel, and pure tantalum to provide a wide range of density and melting conditions. Observations to date include the proof that EB welding, cutting, and melting can be done successfully in low gravity. Earlier, some welding authorities had postulated that without gravity the EB would force the molten puddle out of contact. However, the experiment proved that surface tension forces predominate. From the viewpoint of cast-solidification, small, equiaxed grains in Skylab specimens compared to large, elongated grains in ground based specimens were observed. The former are thought to be associated with constitutional supercooling and nucleation where the latter are associated with dendritic solidification. In further support of the more equiaxed grain growth in Skylab, symmetric subgrain patterns were frequently observed where there was much less symmetry in ground based specimens.

Poorman, R. M.↗