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At least 1,423 records · Page 79

Free vibrations of thin-walled semicircular graphite-epoxy composite frames

A detailed study is made of the effects of variations in lamination and material parameters of thin walled composite frames on their vibrational characteristics. The structures considered are semicircular thin walled frames with I and J sections. The flanges and webs of the frames are modeled by using 2-D shell and plate finite elements. A mixed formulation is used with the fundamental unknowns consisting of both the generalized displacements and stress resultants in the frame. The frequencies and modes predicted by the 2-D finite element model are compared with those obtained from experiments, as well as with the predictions of a non-dimensional thin walled beam finite element model. A detailed study is made of the sensitivity of the vibrational response to variations in the fiber orientation, material properties of the individual layers, and boundary conditions.

Carden, Huey D.↗

Free vibrations of thin-walled semicircular graphite-epoxy composite frames

A detailed study is made of the effects of variations in lamination and material parameters of thin-walled composite frames on their vibrational characteristics. The structures considered are semicircular thin-walled frames with I and J sections. The flanges and webs of the frames are modeled by using two-dimensional shell and plate finite elements. A mixed formulation is used with the fundamental unknowns consisting of both the generalized displacements and stress resultants in the frame. The frequencies and modes predicted by the two-dimensional finite-element model are compared with those obtained from experiments, as well as with the predictions of a one-dimensional, thin-walled-beam, finite-element model. A detailed study is made of the sensitivity of the vibrational response to variations in the fiber orientation, material properties of the individual layers, and boundary conditions.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗

Supersonic combustion with transverse, circular wall jets

A series of experiments are reported using inclined circular wall jets in rectangular scramjet combustion chambers configured as constant area ducts. A free piston shock tunnel was used to create inlet flow Mach numbers between 4.2 and 5.5, at enthalpies corresponding to flight speeds of between 3.5 and 5.3 km/s. Measurements of duct static pressure levels indicated that significant mixing and combustion was achieved. Using hydrogen as a fuel, it was found that multipoint injection from two sides of the duct gave a larger, and more rapid, pressure rise. In hypersonic flow, it was found that combustion only occurred for the same duct dimensions and operating conditions that supported combustion with central injection from a two-dimensional strut. Wall injection from discrete orifice circular jets was found to be more effective than two-dimensional wall injection across the whole width of the duct.

Morgan, R. G.↗

Analysis of a dusty wall jet

An analysis is given for the entrainment of dust into a turbulent radial wall jet. Equations are solved based on incompressible flow of a radial wall jet into which dust is entrained from the wall and transported by turbulent diffusion and convection throughout the flow. It is shown that the resulting concentration of dust particles in the flow depends on the difference between the applied shear stress at the surface and the maximum level of shear stress that the surface can withstand (varies as rho(sub d)a(sub g)D) i.e., the pressure due to the weight of a single layer of dust. The analysis is expected to have application to the downflow that results from helicopter and VTOL aircraft.

Lim, Hock-Bin↗

Atmospheric pressure flow reactor: Gas phase chemical kinetics under tropospheric conditions without wall effects

A flow reactor for simulating the interaction in the troposphere is set forth. A first reactant mixed with a carrier gas is delivered from a pump and flows through a duct having louvers therein. The louvers straighten out the flow, reduce turbulence and provide laminar flow discharge from the duct. A second reactant delivered from a source through a pump is input into the flowing stream, the second reactant being diffused through a plurality of small diffusion tubes to avoid disturbing the laminar flow. The commingled first and second reactants in the carrier gas are then directed along an elongated duct where the walls are spaced away from the flow of reactants to avoid wall interference, disturbance or turbulence arising from the walls. A probe connected with a measuring device can be inserted through various sampling ports in the second duct to complete measurements of the first and second reactants and the product of their reaction at selected XYZ locations relative to the flowing system.

Koontz, Steven L.↗

A near-wall four-equation turbulence model for compressible boundary layers

A near-wall four-equation turbulence model is developed for the calculation of high-speed compressible turbulent boundary layers. The four equations used are the k-epsilon equations and the theta(exp 2)-epsilon(sub theta) equations. These equations are used to define the turbulent diffusivities for momentum and heat fluxes, thus allowing the assumption of dynamic similarity between momentum and heat transport to be relaxed. The Favre-averaged equations of motion are solved in conjunction with the four transport equations. Calculations are compared with measurements and with another model's predictions where the assumption of the constant turbulent Prandtl number is invoked. Compressible flat plate turbulent boundary layers with both adiabatic and constant temperature wall boundary conditions are considered. Results for the range of low Mach numbers and temperature ratios investigated are essentially the same as those obtained using an identical near-wall k-epsilon model. In general, the numerical predictions are in very good agreement with measurements and there are significant improvements in the predictions of mean flow properties at high Mach numbers.

Sommer, T. P.↗

Effect of microgravity environment on cell wall regeneration, cell divisions, growth, and differentiation of plants from protoplasts (7-IML-1)

The primary goal of this project is to investigate if microgravity has any influence on growth and differentiation of protoplasts. Formation of new cell walls on rapeseed protoplasts takes place within the first 24 hours after isolation. Cell division can be observed after 2-4 days and formation of cell aggregates after 5-7 days. Therefore, it is possible during the 7 day IML-1 Mission to investigate if cell wall formation, cell division, and cell differentiation are influenced by microgravity. Protoplasts of rapeseeds and carrot will be prepared shortly before launch and injected into 0.6 ml polyethylene bags. Eight bags are placed in an aluminum block inside the ESA Type 1 container. The containers are placed at 4 C in PTCU's and transferred to orbiter mid-deck. At 4 C all cell processes are slowed down, including cell wall formation. Latest access to the shuttle will be 12 hours before launch. In orbit the containers will be transferred from the PTC box to the 22 C Biorack incubator. The installation of a 1 g centrifuge in Biorack will make it possible to distinguish between effects of near weightlessness and effects caused by cosmic radiation and other space flight factors including vibrations. Parallel control experiments will be carried out on the ground. Other aspects of the experiment are discussed.

Rasmussen, Ole↗

Wall functions for the kappa-epsilon turbulence model in generalized nonorthogonal curvilinear coordinates

A k-epsilon turbulence model suitable for compressible flow, including the new wall function formulation, has been incorporated into an existing compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes code, F3D. The low Reynolds number k-epsilon model of Chien (1982) was added for comparison with the present method. A number of features were added to the F3D code including improved far-field boundary conditions and viscous terms in the streamwise direction. A series of computations of increasing complexity was run to test the effectiveness of the new formulation. Flow over a flat plate was computed by using both orthogonal and nonorthogonal grids, and the friction coefficients and velocity profiles compared with a semi-empirical equation. Flow over a body of revolution at zero angle of attack was then computed to test the method's ability to handle flow over a curved surface. Friction coefficients and velocity profiles were compared to test data. All models gave good results on a relatively fine grid, but only the wall function formulation was effective with coarser grids. Finally, in order to demonstrate the method's ability to handle complex flow fields, separated flow over a prolate spheroid at angle of attack was computed, and results were compared to test data. The results were also compared to a k-epsilon model by Kim and Patel (1991), in which one equation model patched in at the wall was employed. Both models gave reasonable solutions, but improvement is required for accurate prediction of friction coefficients in the separated regions.

Sondak, D. L.↗

Turbulence modeling: Near-wall turbulence and effects of rotation on turbulence

Many Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes solvers use closure models in conjunction with 'the law of the wall', rather than deal with a thin, viscous sublayer near the wall. This work is motivated by the need for better models to compute near wall turbulent flow. The authors use direct numerical simulation of fully developed channel flow and one of three dimensional turbulent boundary layer flow to develop new models. These direct numerical simulations provide detailed data that experimentalists have not been able to measure directly. Another objective of the work is to examine analytically the effects of rotation on turbulence, using Rapid Distortion Theory (RDT). This work was motivated by the observation that the pressure strain models in all current second order closure models are unable to predict the effects of rotation on turbulence.

Shih, T.-H.↗

Direct simulations of wall-bounded compressible turbulence

A study has been initiated on the effects of compressibility (Mach number) on turbulent boundary layers. An understanding of both qualitative (turbulence structures, physical processes) and quantitative (turbulence statistics) effects are desired. This understanding should lead to better turbulence models for applications involving supersonic wall-bounded flows. Direct numerical simulations of an idealized problem will be used to accomplish these objectives. Among several possibilities we chose plane Couette flow with constant-temperature walls as the first problem to be studied. The lack of mean streamwise pressure gradient plus isothermal walls implies that both horizontal directions can be assumed to be homogeneous and that the flow can reach a statistically steady state. Together, these features greatly simplify the calculations and analyses of the results. To date, an algorithm has been developed and implemented (but not yet fully tested) for the accurate solution of the Navier-Stokes equations with the assumptions noted above.

Buell, J. C.↗

A new time scale based k-epsilon model for near wall turbulence

A k-epsilon model is proposed for wall bonded turbulent flows. In this model, the eddy viscosity is characterized by a turbulent velocity scale and a turbulent time scale. The time scale is bounded from below by the Kolmogorov time scale. The dissipation equation is reformulated using this time scale and no singularity exists at the wall. The damping function used in the eddy viscosity is chosen to be a function of R(sub y) = (k(sup 1/2)y)/v instead of y(+). Hence, the model could be used for flows with separation. The model constants used are the same as in the high Reynolds number standard k-epsilon model. Thus, the proposed model will be also suitable for flows far from the wall. Turbulent channel flows at different Reynolds numbers and turbulent boundary layer flows with and without pressure gradient are calculated. Results show that the model predictions are in good agreement with direct numerical simulation and experimental data.

Yang, Z.↗

Instantaneous response of elastic thin-walled structures with arbitrary open cross section to rapid heating

A generalized modeling and analysis approach of thermally-induced coupled vibrations of elastic thin-walled configurations with arbitrary open cross sections are presented in conjunction with a unified implicit transient methodology. Limited research appears in literature which takes into account the influence of rapid thermal heating effects on structures involving various forms of coupling. As a consequence, the dynamic response of such thin-walled structures of arbitrary open cross section due to rapid heating are described here. Effects involving triple, double, and no coupling between bending and torsional vibrations caused by sudden heating on these structures are examined. Numerical test cases are presented which describe the influence of sudden heating on elastic thin-walled structures of arbitrary open cross sections.

Chen, Xiaoqin↗

Asymptotic modal analysis of a rectangular acoustic cavity excited by wall vibration

Asymptotic modal analysis, a method that has recently been developed for structural dynamical systems, has been applied to a rectangular acoustic cavity. The cavity had a flexible vibrating portion on one wall, and the other five walls were rigid. Banded white noise was transmitted through the flexible portion (plate) only. Both the location along the wall and the size of the plate were varied. The mean square pressure levels of the cavity interior were computed as a ratio of the result obtained from classical modal analysis to that obtained from asymptotic modal analysis for the various plate configurations. In general, this ratio converged to 1.0 as the number of responding modes increased. Intensification effects were found due to both the excitation location and the response location. The asymptotic modal analysis method was both efficient and accurate in solving the given problem. The method has advantages over the traditional methods that are used for solving dynamics problems with a large number of responding modes.

Peretti, Linda F.↗

Near-wall variable-Prandtl-number turbulence model for compressible flows

A near-wall four-equation turbulence model is developed for the calculation of high-speed compressible turbulent boundary layers. The four equations used are the k-epsilon equations and the theta(exp 2)-epsilon (sub theta) equations. These equations are used to define the turbulent diffusivities for momentum and heat fluxes, thus allowing the assumption of dynamic similarity between momentum and heat transport to be relaxed. The Favre-averaged equations of motion are solved in conjunction with the four transport equations. Calculations are compared with measurements and with another model's predictions where the assumption of the constant turbulent Prandtl number is invoked. Compressible flat plate turbulent boundary layers with both adiabatic and constant temperature wall boundary conditions are considered. Results for the range of low Mach numbers and temperature ratios investigated are essentially the same as those obtained using an identical near-wall k-epsilon model. In general, there are significant improvements in the predictions of mean flow properties at high Mach numbers.

Sommer, T. P.↗

A Reynolds stress model for near-wall turbulence

The paper formulates a tensorially consistent near-wall second-order closure model. Redistributive terms in the Reynolds stress equations are modeled by an elliptic relaxation equation in order to represent strongly nonhomogeneous effects produced by the presence of walls; this replaces the quasi-homogeneous algebraic models that are usually employed, and avoids the need for ad hoc damping functions. The model is solved for channel flow and boundary layers with zero and adverse pressure gradients. Good predictions of Reynolds stress components, mean flow, skin friction, and displacement thickness are obtained in various comparisons to experimental and direct numerical simulation data. The model is also applied to a boundary layer flowing along a wall with a 90-deg, constant-radius, convex bend.

Durbin, P. A.↗

New time scale based k-epsilon model for near-wall turbulence

A k-epsilon model is proposed for wall bonded turbulent flows. In this model, the eddy viscosity is characterized by a turbulent velocity scale and a turbulent time scale. The time scale is bounded from below by the Kolmogorov time scale. The dissipation equation is reformulated using this time scale and no singularity exists at the wall. The damping function used in the eddy viscosity is chosen to be a function of R(sub y) = (k(sup 1/2)y)/v instead of y(+). Hence, the model could be used for flows with separation. The model constants used are the same as in the high Reynolds number standard k-epsilon model. Thus, the proposed model will be also suitable for flows far from the wall. Turbulent channel flows at different Reynolds numbers and turbulent boundary layer flows with and without pressure gradient are calculated. Results show that the model predictions are in good agreement with direct numerical simulation and experimental data.

Yang, Z.↗

Cell wall and enzyme changes during the graviresponse of the leaf-sheath pulvinus of oat (Avena sativa)

The graviresponse of the leaf-sheath pulvinus of oat (Avena sativa) involves an asymmetric growth response and asymmetric processes involving degradation of starch and cell wall synthesis. Cellular and biochemical events were studied by investigation of the activities of related enzymes and changes in cell walls and their constituents. It is suggested that an osmotic potential gradient acts as the driving factor for growth, while wall extensibility is a limiting factor in pulvinus growth.

Gibeaut, David M.↗

Nongray gas analyses for reflecting walls utilizing a flux technique

A flux formulation for a planar slab of molecular gas radiation bounded by diffuse reflecting walls is developed. While this formulation is limited to the planar geometry, it is useful for studying approximations necessary in modeling nongray radiative heat transfer. The governing equations are derived by considering the history of multiple reflections between the walls. Accurate solutions are obtained by explicitly accounting for a finite number of reflections and approximating the spectral effects of the remaining reflections. Four approximate methods are presented and compared using a single absorption band of H2O. All four methods reduce to an identical zeroth-order formulation, which accounts for all reflections approximately but does handle nonreflected radiation correctly. A single absorption band of CO2 is also considered using the best-behaved approximation for higher orders. A zeroth-order formulation is sufficient to predict the radiative transfer accurately for many cases considered. For highly reflecting walls, higher order solutions are necessary for better accuracy. Including all the important bands of H2O, the radiative source distributions are also obtained for two different temperature and concentration profiles.

Menart, J. A.↗