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At least 919 records · Page 51

Direct simulation of three-dimensional hypersonic flow about intersecting blunt wedges

The general three-dimensional direct simulation Monte Carlo method is used to study the hypersonic flow around two blunt wedges that intersect at a 90 deg angle. Results are obtained for the transitional flow regimes found at 85 and 100 km altitude with a reentry velocity of 7.5 km/s. The disturbance field in front of the double-wedge body is found to be larger than that produced by a single wedge. Surface pressures and flow densities are higher near the wedge intersection, whereas surface heating and shear streses are greater at locations removed from the corner. Results also show that three-dimensional flow structure occurs only near the wedge corner, and that the flow monotonically approaches the limiting two-dimensional wedge flow case in the spanwise direction.

Celenligil, M. Cevdet↗

Thermal and pressure diffusion effects in high altitude flows

An apparently anomalous change in composition adjacent to a non-catalytic surface in an earlier DSMC calculation of a non-reacting gas mixture is shown to have been due to thermal diffusion. Both thermal and pressure diffusion can lead to species separation effects in the flow of gas mixtures, but are not generally included in Navier-Stokes formulations. Additional DSMC calculations are made for blunt-body and plume expansion flows using both a simple gas and an otherwise identical gas mixture. These test calculations indicate that the pressure distribution on the forward face of a blunt body is largely unaffected by the species separation in the stagnation region. The gas density in this region is significantly affected and there is a slight change in the heat transfer to the surface. The pressure distribution around the shoulder of the body is affected. Very large separations occur in the plume expansion of the gas mixtures and there is an order of magnitude increase in density in the backflow region for the mixture.

Bird, G. A.↗

Direct simulation of three-dimensional flow about the AFE vehicle at high altitudes

Three-dimensional hypersonic rarefied flow about the Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE) vehicle was studied using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) technique. Results are presented for the transitional flow regime encountered between 120 and 200 km altitudes with a reentry velocity of 9.92 km/s. In the simulations, a five-species reacting real-gas model that accounts for internal energies (rotational and vibrational) is used. The results indicate that the transitional effects are significant even at an altitude of 200 km and influence the overall vehicle aerodynamics. For the cases considered, the aerodynamic coefficients, surface pressures, convective heating, and flow field structure variations with rarefaction effects are presented.

Celenligil, M. Cevdet↗

Ratios of molecular hydrogen line intensities in shocked gas - Evidence for cooling zones

Column densities of molecular hydrogen have been calculated from 19 infrared vibration-rotation and pure rotational line intensities measured at peak 1 of the Orion molecular outflow. The run of column density with energy level is similar to a simple coolng zone model of the line-emitting region, but is not well fitted by predictions of C-shock models current in the literature.

Brand, P. W. J. L.↗

Computation of electron density in high altitude re-entry flows

The direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method has been modified to deal with the very small degree of ionization that occurs in the early stages of the 'communications blackout' phase of re-entry. The simplified model of the process assumes that the ionization is entirely a consequence of the reaction N + O yields NO(+) + e-. The measurements from the RAM C-II test vehicle at an altitude of 81 km have been chosen as the test case. It was found that the form of the electron distribution along the shock layer was in agreement with the measurements. That normal to the surface was also in agreement with the measurements if the surface is regarded as fully catalytic. However, quantitative agreement for the fully catalytic case requires a reaction rate about an order of magnitude greater than those generally associated with this reaction.

Bird, G. A.↗

Spectral mapping of Alaskan ophiolites using Landsat Thematic Mapper data

Ophiolites are sections of oceanic lithosphere that have been exposed by thrusting in mountain belts. Thematic Mapper three-band color composites have been used to differentiate the main rock types of the ophiolites of the western Brooks Range, Alaska, and to map mineralogic variations produced by processes that affect oceanic lithosphere, such as mantle partial melting, hydration of ultramafic rock, formation of cumulate layers, and hydrothermal alteration and metamorphism of basalt. Scaled composites of TM Bands 7, 3, 1 and 5, 4, 2, and 3, 2, 1, displayed in red, green, and blue are most useful for visually differentiating rocks of the ophiolites. Ternary diagrams of digital number values are used to evaluate color variations observed in the three-band composites. Geologic maps, interpreted from TM images and reconnaissance field studies, are presented for the Asik Mountain, Maiyumerak Mountains, Avan Hills, and Misheguk Mountain ophiolites. The mapping results are being used to guide additional studies of the tectonics of the Brooks Range ophiolites.

Harding, David J.↗

Influence of local configuration on the backflow from small rocket thrusters

A numerical study has been made of the low density plume flow from a small thruster motor. For the case studied, the addition of a thin plume shield with a diameter 1.67 times the nozzle exit diameter was found to lead to a reduction in the backflow by several orders of magnitude. Calculations were also made for the three-dimensional flow produced by a pair of motors, in order to determine the increase in the backflow due to the interaction of the plumes. The calculations were made with the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, and one of the purposes of the work was to test a new and faster set of algorithms for this method.

Bird, G. A.↗

Grids for DSMC computation of two and three-dimensional flows

Contemporary grid schemes for use in Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method of computing two- and three-dimensional flows are briefly surveyed. The grids described include: (1) simple, constant area cells defined by a rectangular grid; (2) multilevel rectangular grids; (3) adaptive rectangular cells; (4) 'point reference' scheme; (5) body-fitted 'analytical' cells; (6) 'general' schemes; (7) 'general' schemes with subcells; (8) orthogonal transformation to rectangular grid; (9) structural tetrahedral grids; (10) rectangular multilevel subcells with adaptive body-fitted cells.

Bird, G. A.↗

Perception of numerical methods in rarefied gasdynamics

The relationships between various numerical methods applied to problems in rarefied gasdynamics are discussed, with emphasis on conflicting viewpoints and computational requirements associated with physical simulation versus the numerical solution of the Boltzmann equation. The basic differences between the molecular dynamics and direct simulation methods are shown to affect their applicability to dense and rarefied flows. Methods for the probabilistic selection of representative collision in the direct simulation Monte Carlo method are reviewed. A method combining the most desirable features of the earlier methods is presented.

Bird, G. A.↗

Direct simulation of three-dimensional flow about the AFE vehicle at high altitudes

Three-dimensional hypersonic rarefied flow about the Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE) vehicle was studied using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) technique. Results are presented for the transitional flow regime encountered between 120 and 200 km altitudes with a reentry velocity of 9.92 km/s. In the simulations, a five-species reacting real-gas model that accounts for internal energies (rotational and vibrational) is used. The results indicate that the transitional effects are significant even at an altitude of 200 km and influence the overall vehicle aerodynamics. For the cases considered, the aerodynamic coefficients, surface pressures, convective heating, and flow field structure variations with rarefaction effects are presented.

Celenligil, M. Cevdet↗

Application of the direct simulation Monte Carlo method to the full shuttle geometry

A new set of programs has been developed for the application of the direct simulation Monte Carlo (or DSMC) method to rarefied gas flows with complex three-dimensional boundaries. The programs are efficient in terms of the computational load and also in terms of the effort required to set up particular cases. This efficiency is illustrated through computations of the flow about the Shuttle Orbiter. The general flow features are illustrated for altitudes from 170 to 100 km. Also, the computed lift-drag ratio during re-entry is compared with flight measurements.

Bird, G. A.↗

Efficiency and discrepancy in the direct simulation methods

The paper reviews the factors that affect the versatility, computational efficiency, and accuracy of the various direct simulation methods that are being applied to problems in rarefied gas dynamics. The quality of the simulation can be affected by the underlying motivation and objectives. The influence of computer hardware developments on the cost-effectiveness is discussed, as are the software factors that influence the speed with which simulation programs can be applied to new problems. Particular attention is given to a novel method that improves the efficiency of the simulation for complex three-dimensional problems. The topical issues of reduced resolution procedures, stored lists, and variance reduction schemes are discussed in some detail.

Bird, G. A.↗

Fabrication and evaluation of enhanced diffusion bonded titanium honeycomb core sandwich panels with titanium aluminide face sheets

A joining process was developed for fabricating lightweight, high temperature sandwich panels for aerospace applications using Ti-14Al-21Nb face sheets and Ti-3Al-2.5V honeycomb core. The process, termed Enhanced Diffusion Bonding (EDB), relies on the formation of a eutectic liquid through solid-state diffusion at elevated temperatures and isothermal solidification to produce joints in thin-gage titanium and titanium aluminide structural components. A technique employing a maskant on the honeycomb core was developed which permitted electroplating a controlled amount of EDB material only on the edges of the honeycomb core in order to minimize the structural weight and metallurgical interaction effects. Metallurgical analyses were conducted to determine the interaction effects between the EDB materials and the constituents of the sandwich structure following EDB processing. The initial mechanical evaluation was conducted with butt joint specimens tested at temperatures from 1400 - 1700 F. Further mechanical evaluation was conducted with EDB sandwich specimens using flatwise tension tests at temperatures from 70 - 1100 F and edgewise compression tests at ambient temperature.

Hoffmann, E. K.↗

Dissolution of quartz in aqueous basic solution, 106-236 C - Surface kinetics of 'perfect' crystallographic faces

A highly accurate method, called the negative crystal method, for determining the rate of dissolution on specific crystallographic faces of crystals was developed, in which the dissolution rates of nominally perfect crystal faces are obtained by measuring the size of individual negative crystals during a sequence of dissolution steps. The method was applied to determine the apparent activation energy and rate constants for the dissolution of quartz in 0.01 M KOH solutions at temperatures from 106 to 236 C. Also investigated were the effects of hydroxyl activity and ionic strength. The apparent activation energies for the dissolution of the prism and of the rhomb were determined.

Gratz, Andrew J.↗

Advanced fabrication technology for high speed aircraft structures

An overview of the development of the weld-brazing process for fabricating Ti-6Al-4V skin-stiffened panels, a brazing process for fabricating Bsc/Al titanium honeycomb core panels, and the enhanced diffusion bonding (EDB) process for fabricating Ti-14Al-21Nb titanium aluminide structural elements are presented. Data presented include the shear strengths of full-scale weldbrazed Ti-6Al-4V skin stiffened and Bsc/Al titanium honeycomb core sandwich panels designed to meet the requirements of an upper wing panel on the NASA YF-12. These results verified that the materials, fabrication processes, and structural concepts were qualified for Mach 3 flight. Shear strengths of each of the panel concepts following flight service evaluation are also reported. Comparisons made with the cost and weight of the original wing panel indicated that the weldbrazed titanium panels resulted in a 15-20 percent cost savings and the brazed Bsc/Al panel showed a 30 percent weight savings. It was also shown that the strengths of the EDB joints were sufficient to develop stresses in the Ti-14Al-21Nb face sheets of the sandwich structure which were above the yield strength of the material.

Bales, T. T.↗

Shock wave-boundary layer interactions in rarefied gas flows

A numerical study is presented, using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, of shock wave-boundary layer interactions in low density supersonic flows. Test cases include two-dimensional, axially-symmetric and three-dimensional flows. The effective displacement angle of the boundary layer is calculated for representative flat plate, wedge, and cone flows. The maximum pressure, shear stress, and heat transfer in the shock formation region is determined in each case. The two-dimensional reflection of an oblique shock wave from a flat plate is studied, as is the three-dimensional interaction of such a wave with a sidewall boundary layer.

Bird, G. A.↗