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At least 109 records · Page 6

The construction and use of divergence free vector expansions for incompressible fluid flow calculations

For incompressible fluids the law of mass conservation reduces to a constraint on the velocity vector, namely that it be divergence free. This constraint has long been a source of great difficulty to the numericist seeking to discretize the Navier-Stokes and Euler equations. A spectral method is discussed which overcomes this difficulty. Its efficacy is demonstrated on some simple problems. The velocity is approximated by a finite sum of divergence free vectors, each of which satisfies the same boundary conditions as the velocity. Projecting the governing equation onto the space of inviscid vector fields eliminates the pressure term and produces a set of ordinary differential equations that must be solved for the coefficents in the velocity. The pressure can then be recovered if it is needed.

Mhuiris, N. M. G.

System and method for confining an object to a region of fluid flow having a stagnation point

A device for confining an object to a region proximate to a fluid flow stagnation point includes one or more inlets for carrying the fluid into the region, one or more outlets for carrying the fluid out of the region, and a controller, in fluidic communication with the inlets and outlets, for adjusting the motion of the fluid to produce a stagnation point in the region, thereby confining the object to the region. Applications include, for example, prolonged observation of the object, manipulation of the object, etc. The device optionally may employ a feedback control mechanism, a sensing apparatus (e.g., for imaging), and a storage medium for storing, and a computer for analyzing and manipulating, data acquired from observing the object. The invention further provides methods of using such a device and system in a number of fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, material science, and medical science.

Schroeder, Charles M.

Simulation of Fluid Flow and Collection Efficiency for an SEA Multi-element Probe

Numerical simulations of fluid flow and collection efficiency for a Science Engineering Associates (SEA) multi-element probe are presented. Simulation of the flow field was produced using the Glenn-HT Navier-Stokes solver. Three dimensional unsteady results were produced and then time averaged for the collection efficiency results. Three grid densities were investigated to enable an assessment of grid dependence. Collection efficiencies were generated for three spherical particle sizes, 100, 20, and 5 micron in diameter, using the codes LEWICE3D and LEWICE2D. The free stream Mach number was 0.27, representing a velocity of approximately 86 ms. It was observed that a reduction in velocity of about 15-20 occurred as the flow entered the shroud of the probe.Collection efficiency results indicate a reduction in collection efficiency as particle size is reduced. The reduction with particle size is expected, however, the results tended to be lower than previous results generated for isolated two-dimensional elements. The deviation from the two-dimensional results is more pronounced for the smaller particles and is likely due to the effect of the protective shroud.

Aircraft Icing

Simulation of Fluid Flow and Collection Efficiency for an SEA Multi-element Probe

Numerical simulations of fluid flow and collection efficiency for a Science Engineering Associates (SEA) multi-element probe are presented. Simulation of the flow field was produced using the Glenn-HT Navier-Stokes solver. Three-dimensional unsteady results were produced and then time averaged for the heat transfer and collection efficiency results. Three grid densities were investigated to enable an assessment of grid dependence. Simulations were completed for free stream velocities ranging from 85-135 meters per second, and free stream total pressure of 44.8 and 93.1 kilopascals (6.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch absolute). In addition, the effect of angle of attack and yaw were investigated by including 5 degree deviations from straight for one of the flow conditions. All but one of the cases simulated a probe in isolation (i.e. in a very large domain without any support strut). One case is included which represents a probe mounted on a support strut within a finite sized wind tunnel. Collection efficiencies were generated, using the LEWICE3D code, for four spherical particle sizes, 100, 50, 20, and 5 micron in diameter. It was observed that a reduction in velocity of about 20% occurred, for all cases, as the flow entered the shroud of the probe. The reduction in velocity within the shroud is not indicative of any error in the probe measurement accuracy. Heat transfer results are presented which agree quite well with a correlation for the circular cross section heated elements. Collection efficiency results indicate a reduction in collection efficiency as particle size is reduced. The reduction with particle size is expected, however, the results tended to be lower than the previous results generated for isolated two-dimensional elements. The deviation from the two-dimensional results is more pronounced for the smaller particles and is likely due to the reduced flow within the protective shroud. As particle size increases differences between the two-dimensional and three dimensional results become negligible. Taken as a group, the total collection efficiency of the elements including the effects of the shroud has been shown to be in the range of 0.93 to 0.99 for particles above 20 microns. The 3D model has improved the estimated collection efficiency for smaller particles where errors in previous estimates were more significant.

Water Content

A comparative study of the influence of buoyancy driven fluid flow on GaAs crystal growth

An experiment on the effect of gravity-driven fluid flow on GaAs crystal growth under a variety of Earth-based conditions and in microgravity aboard the space shuttle is described. Earth-based growth is performed under stabilizing and destabilizing temperature gradients, with and without applied magnetic fields. The space growth experiment is flown in a self-contained payload container through NASA's Get Away Special program. The scope of the experiment and the experimental apparatus are outlined. Results of the Earth-based portions of the experiment are presented.

Kafales, J. A.

A comparative study of the influence of buoyancy driven fluid flow on GaAs crystal growth

A systematic investigation of the effect of gravity driven fluid flow on GaAs crystal growth was performed. It includes GaAs crystal growth in the microgravity environment aboard the Space Shuttle. The program involves a controlled comparative study of crystal growth under a variety of earth based conditions with variable orientation and applied magnetic field in addition to the microgravity growth. Earth based growth will be performed under stabilizing as well as destabilizing temperature gradients. The boules grown in space and on earth will be fully characterized to correlate the degree of convection with the distribution of impurities. Both macro- and micro-segregation will be determined. The space growth experiment will be flown in a self-contained payload container through NASA's Get Away Special program.

Kafalas, J. A.

Numerical analysis of complex fluid-flow systems

Very flexible computer-assisted numerical analysis is used to solve dynamic fluid-flow equations characterizing computer-controlled heat dissipation system developed for Space lab. Losses caused by bends, ties, fittings, valves, and like are easily included, and analysis can solve both steady-state and transient cases. It can also interact with parallel thermal analysis.

Holland, R. L.

Dual laser optical system and method for studying fluid flow

A dual laser optical system and method is disclosed for visualization of phenomena in transport substances which induce refractive index gradients such as fluid flow and pressure and temperature gradients in fluids and gases. Two images representing mutually perpendicular components of refractive index gradients may be viewed simultaneously on screen. Two lasers having wave lengths in the visible range but separated by about 1000 angstroms are utilized to provide beams which are collimated into a beam containing components of the different wave lengths. The collimated beam is passed through a test volume of the transparent substance. The collimated beam is then separated into components of the different wave lengths and focused onto a pair of knife edges arranged mutually perpendicular to produce and project images onto the screen.

Owen, R. B.

A fluid flow analysis for convective thermal control of flight experiments

A method for thermally analyzing convectively cooled flight experiments is presented. A three-dimensional fluid flow analysis code is used to optimize air circulation patterns and to predict air velocities in thermally critical areas. The analysis results are compared with the performance characteristics of a typical isothermal free jet, and good agreement is found between velocity profiles and radial distributions for downstream flow mixing. Predicted air velocities from the fluid analysis are used to calculate forced convection coefficients for the flight experiment, and the coefficients are used in a finite difference thermal analysis code to describe the response of air temperature and heat loss for the Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment during transient flight profiles. Recommendations are made for the future design of convectively cooled flight experiments.

Killough, Brian D.

On stability and turbulence of fluid flows

This investigation is divided into two parts, the treatment of the stability problem of fluid flows on the one hand, and that of the turbulent motion on the other. The first part summarizes all previous investigations under a unified point of view, that is, sets up as generally as possible the conditions under which a profile possesses unstable or stable characteristics, and indicates the methods for solution of the stability equation for any arbitrary velocity profile and for calculation of the critical Reynolds number for unstable profiles. In the second part, under certain greatly idealizing assumptions, differential equations for the turbulent motions are derived and from them qualitative information about several properties of the turbulent velocity distribution is obtained.

FLOW, TURBULENT

Measurement of two-dimensional fluid flow by digital correlation of scattered light

Digital correlation is a pattern matching procedure. This procedure has recently been used in two-dimensional fluid flow measurements. Two images of a seeded fluid are taken and the intensity distribution of a small window in the first image is matched in the second image using a statistical correlation method. A series of structure functions have been implemented to improve the accuracy and reliability of the correlation method and new algorithms have been developed to reduce the time required for the correlation computations.

Matthys, Donald R.