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At least 1,189 records · Page 66

Sonic boom effect on fish: Observations

Motion pictures of fish in a small tank at the time a bullet traveling 1200 m/sec passes a few centimeters above indicate that fish sense the passage of the shock wave but suffer no ill effects. The pressure rise at the bow shock wave was 0.26 atm or 275 times that associated with a strong sonic boom, for example, from the proposed supersonic transport.

Wilkins, M. E.↗

Pressure signatures for a .00053 scale model of the Saturn 5-Apollo launch vehicle with simulated exhaust plumes

Wind tunnel pressure signatures are presented for 10 Mach numbers over a range from 3.01 to 7.29 for a .00053-scale model of the Saturn 5 Apollo launch vehicle complete with escape tower and solid body simulated exhaust plumes for each Mach number. The effect of simulated plume length on the wind tunnel pressure signature was investigated at Mach 4.01. An analysis of the error incurred by extrapolating pressure signatures having strong shock waves by weak shock procedures is presented.

Hicks, R. M.↗

Investigation of hydrogen-air ignition sensitized by nitric oxide and by nitrogen dioxide

The sensitization of stoichiometric hydrogen-air ignition by NO, NO2 and a mixture of NO and NO2 was investigated behind reflected shock waves in a shock tube. Induction times were measured in pressure range 0.27 to 2.0 atm, temperature range 800 to 1500 K, and for NO or NO2 mole percent between 0.0 and 4.5. Addition of both NO and NO2 reduced the measured induction times. The experimental data are interpreted in terms of H2-O2-NO(x) oxidation reaction mechanisms. The influence of NO(x) upon a supersonic combustion ramjet combustor test, conducted in an arc-heated facility, is assessed.

Slack, M.↗

Determination of two-stroke engine exhaust noise by the method of characteristics

A computational technique was developed for the method of characteristics solution of a one-dimensional flow in a duct as applied to the wave action in an engine exhaust system. By using the method, it was possible to compute the unsteady flow in both straight pipe and tuned expansion chamber exhaust systems as matched to the flow from the cylinder of a small two-stroke engine. The radiated exhaust noise was then determined by assuming monopole radiation from the tailpipe outlet. Very good agreement with experiment on an operation engine was achieved in the calculation of both the third octave radiated noise and the associated pressure cycles at several locations in the different exhaust systems. Of particular interest is the significance of nonlinear behavior which results in wave steepening and shock wave formation. The method computes the precise paths on the x-t plane of a finite number of C(sub +), C(sub -) and P characteristics, thereby obtaining high accuracy in determining the tailpipe outlet velocity and the radiated noise.

Jones, A. D.↗

Flat plate heat transfer for laminar transition and turbulent boundary layers using a shock tube

Heat transfer results are presented for laminar, transition, and turbulent boundary layers for a Mach number of 0.12 with gas temperatures of 425 K and 1000 K over a flat plate at room temperature. The measurements were made in air for a Reynolds number range of 600 to 6 million. The heat transfer measurements were conducted in a 70-ft long, 4 in. diameter shock tube. Reflecting wedges were used to reflect the incident shock wave to produce a flow Mach number of 0.12 behind the reflected shock wave. Thin film platinum heat gages were mounted on the plate surface to measure the local heat flux. The laminar results for gas temperatures of 425 K to 1000 K agree well with theory. The turbulent results are also close to incompressible theory, with the 1000 K flow case being slightly higher. The transition results lie between the laminar and turbulent predictions.

Brostmeyer, J. D.↗

On the tones of round choked jets impinging on normal flat plates

An experimental investigation of the sound produced by an axisymmetric supersonic jet impinging on plates with variable size and nozzle-to-plate spacings was performed. Spectral analysis and schlieren photography were used to determine the sound characteristics and flow disturbances associated with the production of discrete tones. Two classes of tones, associated with small and large plates, existed for pressure ratios above 2.70. For lower pressure ratios, however, only large plate tones occurred for all plate sizes with choked jet screech appearing at the largest spacings. Reflector tests indicated that both classes of tones were part of a feedback loop to the nozzle. Schlieren photography revealed both symmetric and asymmetric disturbances in the large plate jet flows which corresponded to symmetrical and helical modes of oscillation in the cross-spectrum studies. In addition to this, both symmetric and asymmetric oscillations of the shock waves occurred in the large plate case while symmetric oscillations of the shock wave occurred in the small plate case.

Powell, Alan↗

Neutrinos from type II supernovae - The first 100 milliseconds

The collapse of a 1.17 solar mass iron core is numerically followed through infall to 100 ms past core bounce, and the emergent neutrino spectra during each phase are highlighted. It is found that, even with fairly optimistic conditions for producing a strong, sustained core-bounce shock wave, the prompt shock stalls within 9 ms of core bounce at a radius of less than 250 km. It appears that a radical change in the character of the progenitor core or in our understanding of the relevant physics of stellar collapse is needed before the direct mechanism for type II supernovae can become viable. Expanding the number of neutrino types from one to six magnifies the debilitating effect of neutrino loss on shock propagation. At shock breakout, prompt bursts of all neutrino types are observed. The luminosities of the nonelectron types show a sudden turn-on in luminosity while that of the electron neutrinos steadily increases throughout infall as a result of accelerating electron capture.

Myra, Eric S.↗

Statistical properties of shock-accelerated ions in the outer heliosphere

Reported here are statistical studied of interplanetary protons (about 0.5-1.5 MeV) as measured by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in the outer heliosphere between about 1 and 22 AU. The acceleration processes which produce the fluctuations in intensity of the protons throughout the interval studied are caused by solar flare-generated shock waves and corotating shock structures in the solar wind. It is found that the proton count rates can be represented by a lognormal distribution, independent of the phase of the solar cycle in which the measurements were made. Power spectra of the logarithm of the counts show that for frequencies in the range of about 0.02-0.5 cycles per day, the spectra can be characterized as about f exp -2. At lower frequencies, the spectra turn over and flatten. Over the entire frequency range studied, about 0.002-0.5 cycles per day, the spectra are therefore nonfractal. The rollover in the spectra at about 100 days probably represents the reorganization time for solar wind streams within the coronal source at the sun.

Lanzeroti, L. J.↗

Solar radio astronomy at low frequencies

The characteristics of solar radio emissions at decametric to kilometric wavelengths are reviewed. Special attention is given to the radiation of the quiet sun at several metric and decametric wavelengths and to nonthermal radiation from the active sun, including radio bursts of type III (electron beams), type-III bursts from behind the sun, storms of type III bursts, the flare-associated radio bursts, type II bursts (shock waves), and shock-associated bursts. It is pointed out that almost no observations have been made so far of solar radiation between about 20 MHz and about 2 MHz. Below about 2 MHz, dynamic spectra of flux densities of solar burst have been recorded in space and observations were made of the directions of centroids and characteristic sizes of the emitting sources.

Dulk, George A.↗

On the suitability of the connection machine for direct particle simulation

The algorithmic structure was examined of the vectorizable Stanford particle simulation (SPS) method and the structure is reformulated in data parallel form. Some of the SPS algorithms can be directly translated to data parallel, but several of the vectorizable algorithms have no direct data parallel equivalent. This requires the development of new, strictly data parallel algorithms. In particular, a new sorting algorithm is developed to identify collision candidates in the simulation and a master/slave algorithm is developed to minimize communication cost in large table look up. Validation of the method is undertaken through test calculations for thermal relaxation of a gas, shock wave profiles, and shock reflection from a stationary wall. A qualitative measure is provided of the performance of the Connection Machine for direct particle simulation. The massively parallel architecture of the Connection Machine is found quite suitable for this type of calculation. However, there are difficulties in taking full advantage of this architecture because of lack of a broad based tradition of data parallel programming. An important outcome of this work has been new data parallel algorithms specifically of use for direct particle simulation but which also expand the data parallel diction.

Dagum, Leonard↗

The magnetic field investigation on the Ulysses mission - Instrumentation and preliminary scientific results

A fundamental feature of the heliosphere is the three-dimensional structure of the interplanetary magnetic field. The magnetic field investigation on Ulysses, the first space probe to explore the out-of-ecliptic and polar heliosphere, aims at determining the large-scale features and gradients of the field, as well as the heliolatitude dependence of interplanetary phenomena so far only observed near the ecliptic plane. The Ulysses magnetometer uses two sensors, one a Vector Helium Magnetometer, the other a Fluxgate Magnetometer. Onboard data processing yields measurements of the magnetic field vector with a time resolution up to 2 vectors/second and a sensitivity of about 10 pT. Since the switch-on of the instrument in flight on 25 October 1990, a steady stream of observations has been made, indicating that at this phase of the solar cycle the field is generally disturbed: several shock waves and a large number of discontinuities have been observed, as well as several periods with apparently intense wave activity. The paper gives a brief summary of the scientific objectives of the investigation, followed by a detailed description of the instrument and its characteristics. Examples of wave bursts, interplanetary shocks and crossings of the heliospheric current sheet are given to illustrate the observations made with the instrument.

Balogh, A.↗

Condensate Accretion in Shock Tube's Expansion Fan

It has been shown that turbulence and temperature influence the droplet sizes in expansion fan induced condensation by studying the Rayleigh scattering from one port in our shock tube's test section. We have modified our set-up so as to allow, using two ports, the real time measurement of the influence of turbulence and temperature on the rate at which these droplets grow. To do this, we looked at the Rayleigh scattering from two different ports for ten Reynolds numbers at five different temperatures. We modeled the time of flight of droplets, using the equations of one-dimensional gas dynamics and the measured shock wave speed in shock tube's driven section.

Mezonlin, Ephrem-Denis↗

Solar Spicules: A Review of Recent Models and Targets for Future Observations

Since their discovery over 100 years ago, there have been many suggestions for the origin and development of solar spicules. Because the velocities of spicules are comparable to the sound and Alfven speeds of the low chromosphere, linear theory cannot fully describe them. Consequently, detailed tests of theoretical ideas had to await the development of computing power that only became available during the 1970s. This work reviews theories for spicules and spicule-like features over approximately the past 25 years, with an emphasis on the models based on nonlinear numerical simulations. These models have given us physical insight into wave propagation in the solar atmosphere, and have helped elucidate how such waves, and associated shock waves, may be capable of creating motions and structures on magnetic flux tubes in the lower solar atmosphere. So far, however, it has been difficult to reproduce the most- commonly -quoted parameters for spicules with these models, using what appears to be the most suitable input parameters. A key impediment to developing satisfactory models has been the lack of reliable observational information, which is a consequence of the small angular size and transient lifetime of spicules. I close with a list of key observational questions to be addressed with space-based satellites, such as the currently operating TRACE satellite, and especially the upcoming Solar-B mission. Answers to these questions will help determine which, if any, of the current models correctly explains spicules.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗

Solar Spicules: A Review of Recent Models and Targets for Future Observations

Since their discovery over 100 years ago, there have been many suggestions for the origin and development of solar spicules. Because the velocities of spicules are comparable to the sound and Alfven speeds of the low chromosphere, linear theory cannot fully describe them. Consequently, detailed tests of theoretical ideas had to await the development of computing power that only became available during the 1970s. This work reviews theories for spicules and spicule-like features over approximately the past 25 years, with an emphasis an the models based on nonlinear numerical simulations. These models have given us physical insight into wave propagation in the solar atmosphere and have helped elucidate how such waves, and associated shock waves, may be capable of creating motions and structures on magnetic flux tubes in the lower solar atmosphere. So far, however, it has been difficult to reproduce the most commonly quoted parameters for spicules with these models, using what appears to be the most suitable input parameters. A key impediment to developing satisfactory models has been the lack of reliable observational information, which is a consequence of the small angular size and transient lifetime of spicules. I close with a list of key observational questions to be addressed with space-based satellites, such as the currently operating Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) satellite, and especially the upcoming Solar-B mission. Answers to these questions will help determine which, if any, of the current models correctly explains spicules.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗

Sulfur Oxidation and Contrail Precursor Chemistry

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4), formed in commercial aircraft operations via Fuel-S (right arrow) SO2 + SO3 (right arrow) H2SO4, plays an important role in affecting the global climate change through atmospheric chemical reactions and radiative forcing. Measurement of the sulfur oxidation rates is critical to the understanding of the contrail formation. The principle reaction pathway is SO2 + O + M (right arrow) SO3 + M. Although there are many measurements for the rates of this reaction, it has never been measured in the temperature and pressure regime available to aircraft operation. In this investigation, a series of experiments were performed behind the reflected shock waves in a shock tube. OH radicals were produced in lean, shock heated SO2/H2/O2/Ar mixtures. The reaction progress was followed using OH absorption spectroscopy at 310 nm. The data were analyzed with the aid of computer modeling/simulation. The mean value of the rate coefficients of R21 determined is k(sub 21,0)/[M]= 3.9 x 10(exp 15) cm(sup 6) per square mole per second at T = 960 - 1150 K and rho = 16-30 micromole per cubic centimeter with uncertainty limits of plus or minus 30%. A non-Arrhenius fit to our data together with all existing data gives k(sub 21,0)/[M] = 1.3 x 10(exp 24) T (exp -2.5) exp(-2350 K/T) cm(sup 6) per square mole per second at T = 300 - 2500 K with the same uncertainty limits given above. The calculated conversion of S(IV)(SO2) to S(VI) (SO3 + H2SO4) was about 2% in our experimental conditions.

DeWitt, Kenneth↗

Three-Dimensional Navier-Stokes Calculations Using the Modified Space-Time CESE Method

The space-time conservation element solution element (CESE) method is modified to address the robustness issues of high-aspect-ratio, viscous, near-wall meshes. In this new approach, the dependent variable gradients are evaluated using element edges and the corresponding neighboring solution elements while keeping the original flux integration procedure intact. As such, the excellent flux conservation property is retained and the new edge-based gradients evaluation significantly improves the robustness for high-aspect ratio meshes frequently encountered in three-dimensional, Navier-Stokes calculations. The order of accuracy of the proposed method is demonstrated for oblique acoustic wave propagation, shock-wave interaction, and hypersonic flows over a blunt body. The confirmed second-order convergence along with the enhanced robustness in handling hypersonic blunt body flow calculations makes the proposed approach a very competitive CFD framework for 3D Navier-Stokes simulations.

Chang, Chau-lyan↗

Dynamic Analysis of Reynolds Number Effects on Trailing Edge Transonic Vortex Shedding and Its Impact on Turbine Blade Aerodynamic Performance

Time-resolved, high-speed self-aligned focusing schlieren images were acquired in the NASA Glenn Research Center Transonic Turbine Blade Cascade facility to help understand the aerodynamic behavior of high-pressure, thick trailing edge turbine blades. The trailing edge thickness of 9% of axial chord tested represents simulated ceramic matrix composite fabrication constraints, which was verified previously to possess a high-loss flow regime at high inlet turbulence conditions over a narrow range of Reynolds numbers and at a fixed design exit Mach number of 0.74. Our high-speed images, which were acquired at 10 distinct Reynolds numbers, show a significant increase in energy from flow oscillations due to transonic vortex shedding at Reynolds numbers corresponding to the high loss conditions. For those conditions, strong acoustic waves turn into shock waves. Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition of the high-speed images shows acoustic waves from trailing edge vortex shedding at all conditions, with increased spectral energy at the high-loss conditions and slightly increasing frequency (about 6%) as a function of Reynolds number. Analysis of potential feedback timing is performed using velocity fields from a previous LES simulation, considering different feedback mechanisms. Most noteworthy is the acoustic/shock-boundary layer interaction mechanism on the suction surface at the blade geometric throat, which likely plays an important role in realistic curved blade passages.

Trailing Edge↗