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At least 1,207 records · Page 67

Cross-Platform Classifier of Chemical Stability for Charged Redoxmers

The development of new redox flow battery chemistries is hampered by time-consuming organic syntheses and electrochemical characterization of candidate redoxmer molecules. Here, we use Sure Independence Screening and Sparsifying Operator (SISSO) to demonstrate a cross-platform classifier for chemical stability of charged redoxmers in electrolyte solutions. This SISSO model yields a single formula to separate positively charged dialkoxyarene catholytes and negatively charged pyridinium anolytes into stable and unstable species in acetonitrile-based electrolytes as probed through cyclic voltammetry measurements. Using such classifiers, the stability of new compounds across different synthetic platforms can be rapidly assessed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Direct entry of dense flowing plasmas into the distant tail lobes

Electric field, magnetic field, and spacecraft potential measurements on the Geotail satellite have confirmed earlier observations of relatively dense flowing plasmas in the magnetotail lobes. Within these flowing plasmas, density discontinuities of factors of 2 to 4 were observed. At least 15 of the 18 magnetopause crossings that occurred during a 24-hour interval when the spacecraft was at GSM coordinates near X = -140 R(sub e), Y = 0, and Z = 15 R(sub e), were rotational discontinuities across which the magnetosheath plasma had direct entry into the tail lobes. Within the lobes near the rotational discontinuities, the spacecraft typically crossed a second boundary at which the plasma density decreased from its magnetosheath value by a typical factor of 1.5 to 3 while the magnetic field strength and flow speed increased. Equatorward of this density discontinuity, the plasma density and flow remained appreciable. At least 2 of the 18 magnetopause crossings may have been tangential discontinuities across which the density and magnetic field strength both changed. Within the lobes near these tangential discontinuities, significant densities of flowing plasma were observed. Since 11 of the 18 discontinuities were crossed within a time interval of less than 7 seconds, the bondary current layer was well-defined and very thin.

Mozer, F. S.↗

Development of quiet-flow supersonic wind tunnels for laminar-turbulent transition research

This grant supported research into quiet-flow supersonic wind-tunnels, between May 1990 and December 1994. Quiet-flow nozzles operate with laminar nozzle-wall boundary layers, in order to provide low-disturbance flow for studies of laminar-turbulent transition under conditions comparable to flight. Major accomplishments include: (1) the design, fabrication, and performance-evaluation of a new kind of quiet tunnel, a quiet-flow Ludweig tube; (2) the integration of preexisting codes for nozzle design, 2D boundary-layer computation, and transition-estimation into a single user-friendly package for quiet-nozzle design; and (3) the design and preliminary evaluation of supersonic nozzles with square cross-section, as an alternative to conventional quiet-flow nozzles. After a brief summary of (1), a description of (2) is presented. Published work describing (3) is then summarized. The report concludes with a description of recent results for the Tollmien-Schlichting and Gortler instability in one of the square nozzles previously analyzed.

Schneider, Steven P.↗

Jet-Surface Interaction Test: Flow Measurements Results

Modern aircraft design often puts the engine exhaust in close proximity to the airframe surfaces. Aircraft noise prediction tools must continue to develop in order to meet the challenges these aircraft present. The Jet-Surface Interaction Tests have been conducted to provide a comprehensive quality set of experimental data suitable for development and validation of these exhaust noise prediction methods. Flow measurements have been acquired using streamwise and cross-stream particle image velocimetry (PIV) and fluctuating surface pressure data acquired using flush mounted pressure transducers near the surface trailing edge. These data combined with previously reported far-field and phased array noise measurements represent the first step toward the experimental data base. These flow data are particularly applicable to development of noise prediction methods which rely on computational fluid dynamics to uncover the flow physics. A representative sample of the large flow data set acquired is presented here to show how a surface near a jet affects the turbulent kinetic energy in the plume, the spatial relationship between the jet plume and surface needed to generate surface trailing-edge noise, and differences between heated and unheated jet flows with respect to surfaces.

Flow↗

Vortex-generating coolant-flow-passage design for increased film-cooling effectiveness and surface coverage

The thermal film-cooling footprints observed by infrared imagery for three coolant-passage configurations embedded in adiabatic-test plates are discussed. The configurations included a standard round-hole cross section and two orientations of a vortex-generating flow passage. Both orientations showed up to factors of four increases in both film-cooling effectiveness and surface coverage over that obtained with the round coolant passage. The crossflow data covered a range of tunnel velocities from 15.5 to 45 m/sec with blowing rates from 0.20 to 2.05. A photographic streakline flow visualization technique supported the concept of the counterrotating apability of the flow passage design and gave visual credence to its role in inhibiting flow separation.

Papell, S. S.↗

Visualization and flow surveys of the leading edge vortex structure on delta wing planforms

In the present experimental investigation of thin delta wing vortex breakdown, for the cases of sweep angles of 70, 75, 80, and 85 deg, and smoke flow visualization/laser light sheet technique is used to obtain cross sectional views of the leading edge vortices as they break down. A combination of lateral and longitudinal cross sectional views furnishes data on the three-dimensional character of the vortex before, during, and after breakdown. Velocity measurements conducted with a laser Doppler anemometer on the 70 deg sweep delta, at 30 deg angle-of-attack, indicate that when breakdown occurs the core flow is transformed from a jet-like to a wake-like flow.

Payne, F. M.↗

Radiation absorption by the C2 band systems for Jupiter entry conditions

Revised values of the absorption cross sections for seven electronic band systems of C2 have been calculated using recently published experimental data for the electronic transition moments. Using these revised C2 cross section values, computations were made for the radiating flow field over a Jupiter entry probe with coupled ablation injection from a carbon-phenolic heat shield. Results are presented which show that radiation absorption within the ablation layer for the spectral range of 4 to 6 eV is less than that predicted using previous C2 absorption cross section values. The effect of the reduced radiation absorption by the C2 molecule is an increase in the radiative heating rates and ablation mass loss rates for the Jupiter entry conditions considered in the study.

Sutton, K.↗

Digital Distributed Parameter Model for Analysis of Unsteady Flow in Liquid-Filled Lines

A distributed parameter model for computing unsteady flow conditions in liquid systems is presented. The model is adapted for use in conjunction with a digital computer. The analytical method employed is essentially a solution synthesized from the effects of incremental step pressure pulses. The pressure pulses are generated because of incremental flow-rate changes that originate in a fluid system from a variety of sources, including the mechanical motion of the system structure. The pressure pulses propagate throughout the system at sonic velocity and are partially transmitted and reflected at each discontinuity. The velocity change caused by each pressure pulse is obtained from the relation for the characteristic acoustic impedance. Pressure and velocity time histories at any point in the system are obtained by a timewise summation of the contributions of the incremental pressure pulses passing that point. The analysis is presented in a form general enough to be applied to a variety of liquid-filled fluid systems. To illustrate the application of the method to a specific system, the response of a long, straight propellant line to a sinusoidal inlet flow and pressure perturbation is computed. Both a constant-cross-section line and a tapered line are analyzed in the example.

UNSTEADY FLOW↗

Angled Injection: Turbulent Flow Hybrid Bearings Comparison to Test Results

Hydrostatic/hydrodynamic (hybrid) journal bearings handling process liquids have limited dynamic stability characteristics and their application as support elements to high speed flexible rotating systems is severely restricted. Measurements on water hybrid bearings with angled orifice injection have demonstrated improved rotordynamic performance with virtual elimination of cross-coupled stiffness coefficients and null or negative whirl frequency ratios. A bulk-flow model for prediction of the static performance and force coefficients of hybrid bearings with angled orifice injection is advanced. The analysis reveals that the fluid momentum exchange at the orifice discharge produces a pressure rise in the hydrostatic recess retards the shear flow induced by journal rotation, and thus, reduces cross-coupling forces. The predictions from the model are compared with experimental measurements for a 45 deg. angled orifice injection, 5 recess water hybrid bearing operating at 10.2, 17.4, and 24.6 krpm and with supply pressures of 4, 5.5, and 7 MPa. The correlations include recess pressures, flow rates, and rotordynamic force coefficients at the journal centered position.

SanAndres, Luis↗

Adjoint methods for aerodynamic wing design

A model inverse design problem is used to investigate the effect of flow discontinuities on the optimization process. The optimization involves finding the cross-sectional area distribution of a duct that produces velocities that closely match a targeted velocity distribution. Quasi-one-dimensional flow theory is used, and the target is chosen to have a shock wave in its distribution. The objective function which quantifies the difference between the targeted and calculated velocity distributions may become non-smooth due to the interaction between the shock and the discretization of the flowfield. This paper offers two techniques to resolve the resulting problems for the optimization algorithms. The first, shock-fitting, involves careful integration of the objective function through the shock wave. The second, coordinate straining with shock penalty, uses a coordinate transformation to align the calculated shock with the target and then adds a penalty proportional to the square of the distance between the shocks. The techniques are tested using several popular sensitivity and optimization methods, including finite-differences, and direct and adjoint discrete sensitivity methods. Two optimization strategies, Gauss-Newton and sequential quadratic programming (SQP), are used to drive the objective function to a minimum.

Grossman, Bernard↗

Effect of Water Droplets Crossing the Boundary Layer in a Stagnation Point Configuration

An experimental study was conducted in the Vertical Icing Studies Tunnel at the Icing Physics Flow Laboratory of NASA Glenn Research Center to study the effect of water droplets crossing the boundary layer in a stagnation point configuration. The objective of the experiment was to determine if water droplets crossing a boundary layer create turbulent spots that accelerate the boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent. Water droplets that crossed the boundary layer were generated with a nozzle installed in the plenum. The turbulence level in the boundary layer was measured with a hot wire system when the nozzle was off, air on, and air and water on. The results indicate that the presence of the nozzle alone did not affect the boundary layer. The activation of the nozzle to eject air only or to generate water droplets affected the turbulence level in the boundary layer. The continued study of this effect is needed because of its implications in the development of heat transfer models for icing codes.

Icing↗

Data correlation and analysis of arc tunnel and wind tunnel tests of RSI joints and gaps, phase 2. Volume 1: Technical report

Heat transfer data measured in gaps representative of those being employed for joints in the space shuttle reusable surface insulation (RSI) thermal protection systems (TPS) were assimilated, analyzed, and correlated. Several types of gap were investigated with emphasis on simple butt joints. Gap widths ranged from 0.0 to 0.76 cm and depths ranged from 1 to 6 cm. Laminar, transitional, and turbulent boundary layer flows over the gap opening were investigated. The angle between gap axis and external flow was varied between 0 and pi/2 radians. The contoured cross section gap performed significantly better than all other wide gaps and slightly better than all other narrow gap geometries. Three dimensional heating variations were observed within gaps in the absence of external flow pressure gradients. Interactions between heating within gaps and heating of adjacent top tile surfaces were observed. Gaps aligned with the flow were observed to promote boundary layer transition. Heat transfer correlation equations were obtained for many of the tests. The TPS thickness requirements with and without gaps were computed for a current shuttle entry trajectory. Experimental data employed in the study are summarized. A description of each test facility, run schedule and test conditions, model descriptive information, and heat flux data are included.

Cristensen, H. E.↗

Nonequilibrium Supersonic Freestream Studied Using Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy

Measurements were conducted at the University of Virginia Supersonic Combustion Facility of the flow in a constant-area duct downstream of a Mach 2 nozzle. The airflow was heated to approximately 1200 K in the facility heater upstream of the nozzle. Dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy was used to measure the rotational and vibrational temperatures of N2 and O2 at two planes in the duct. The expectation was that the vibrational temperature would be in equilibrium, because most scramjet facilities are vitiated air facilities and are in vibrational equilibrium. However, with a flow of clean air, the vibrational temperature of N2 along a streamline remains approximately constant between the measurement plane and the facility heater, the vibrational temperature of O2 in the duct is about 1000 K, and the rotational temperature is consistent with the isentropic flow. The measurements of N2 vibrational temperature enabled cross-stream nonuniformities in the temperature exiting the facility heater to be documented. The measurements are in agreement with computational fluid dynamics models employing separate lumped vibrational and translational/rotational temperatures. Measurements and computations are also reported for a few percent steam addition to the air. The effect of the steam is to bring the flow to thermal equilibrium, also in agreement with the computational fluid dynamics.

Cutler, Andrew D.↗

Flow field characteristics of a 127-pin rod bundle with hexagonal spacer grids

A determination of nominal flow phenomena in liquid metal fast reactor (LMFR) fuel assemblies is critical toward generation-IV reactor development. Axially positioned spacer grids are used to maintain the geometry of hexagonal rod bundles and simultaneously introduce perturbations in the flow. Three-dimensional (3D) printed asymmetric honeycomb spacer grids were installed in a prototypical 127-pin LMFR fuel assembly model to study complex fluid dynamics interactions induced by the spacer grid and rods. To characterize flow dynamics in this intricate geometry, time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) using the matched-index-of-refraction method was employed to obtain non-intrusive velocity measurements for three axial planes (one near-wall and two interior planes) at a Reynolds number of 6000. The statistical TR-PIV results compared sub-channel-dependent normalized time-averaged velocity, velocity fluctuations, Reynolds stress, vorticity, and turbulence kinetic energy distributions. TR-PIV line profiles characterized downstream spacer grid flow dynamics. Two-point spatial and spatial–temporal cross-correlation fields revealed local coherent structures and quantified convection velocities of traveling vortices. Spatial–temporal decomposition using dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) applied to the near-wall vorticity fields extracted turbulent structures and flow instabilities in the wake region of the spacer grid, along with their decay and frequency rates. Reduced-order velocity fields from DMD reconstructions identified the most energy-containing coherent structures persistent in the near-wall region. This research provides experimental data sets and analyses of flow behavior in rod bundles with hexagonal spacer grids. In conclusion, the results are critical toward LMFR design and geometry optimization, crucial for the validation of computational fluid dynamics and reduced-order flow models.

42 ENGINEERING↗

High-Latitude Magnetic Reconnection in Sub-Alfvenic Flow as Observed by Interball Tail on 29 May 1996

The Interball/Tail spacecraft crossed the high latitude magnetopause near the cusp region under stable northward IMF conditions on 29 May 1996, with magnetic local time and magnetic latitude approx. 7.3 hours, approx. 65.4 degrees, respectively. The Interball Tail spacecraft observed quasi-steady reconnection and a relatively stable reconnection site at high latitudes. Observed sunward plasma flow and tangential stress balance indicated that reconnection occurred poleward of the magnetic cusp, above the spacecraft location. The spacecraft observed sub-alfvenic flow in the magnetosheath region adjacent to the magnetopause current layer near the reconnection site indicating that the reconnection site may have moved in the sunward direction. These observations suggest that the region of sub-alfvenic flow and stable, quasi-steady reconnection extend to very high latitudes under northward IMF conditions which is not consistent with the gas dynamic model predictions.

Smirnov, V. N.↗

Experimental and analytical investigation of a fluidic power generator

A combined experimental and analytical investigation was performed to understand the various fluid processes associated with the conversion of flow energy into electric power in a fluidic generator. Experiments were performed under flight-simulated laboratory conditions and results were compared with those obtained in the free-flight conditions. It is concluded that the mean mass flow critically controlled the output of the fluidic generator. Cross-correlation of the outputs of transducer data indicate the presence of a standing wave in the tube; the mechanism of oscillation is an acoustic resonance tube phenomenon. A linearized model was constructed coupling the flow behavior of the jet, the jet-layer, the tube, the cavity, and the holes of the fluidic generator. The analytical results also show that the mode of the fluidic power generator is an acoustical resonance phenomenon with the frequency of operation given by f approx = a/4L, where f is the frequency of jet swallowing, a is the average speed of sound in the tube, and L is the length of the tube. Analytical results further indicated that oscillations in the fluidic generator are always damped and consequently there is a forcing of the system in operation.

Sarohia, V.↗

Bipolar coordinates for computation of transition duct flows

Numerical simulation techniques for flows in jet-engine transition ducts with changing cross sections are developed and demonstrated. The boundary-conforming grids required are generated using bipolar coordinates, and the singularities arising at the no-slip boundaries are treated as described by de Vahl Davis (1979) and Tsai and Levy (1987). Grids for several typical configurations are employed in computations with the three-dimensional laminar/turbulent viscous-flow solver of Levy et al. (1983), and the results are presented graphically. The scheme used to deal with singularities is shown to be robust, suggesting that the bipolar grids may be applicable to Navier-Stokes computations.

Madabhushi, R. K.↗

Momentum and energy exchange collision terms for interpenetrating bi-Maxwellian gases

For application to aeronomy and space physics problems involving strongly magnetized plasma flows, we derived momentum and energy exchange collision terms for interpenetrating bi-Maxwellian gases. Collision terms were derived for Coulomb, Maxwell molecule, and constant collision cross-section interaction potentials. The collision terms are valid for arbitrary flow velocity differences and temperature differences between the interacting gases as well as for arbitrary temperature anisotropies. The collision terms had to be evaluated numerically and the appropriate coefficients are presented in tables. However, the collision terms were also fitted with simplified expressions, the accuracy of which depends on both the interaction potential and the temperature anisotropy. In addition, we derived the closed set of transport equations that are associated with the momentum and energy collision terms.

Barakat, A. R.↗