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At least 1,567 records · Page 87

Transverse injection of a particle-laden liquid jet in supersonic flow: A three-phase flow

The results of a two part study of the behavior of particle laden liquid jets injected into air are presented. Water was used as the liquid carrier and either 1-37 or 13-44 microns diam. spherical glass beads with a specific gravity of 2.8-3.0 as the particles. The observations were mainly photographic. The breakup of jets injected into still air was investigated as a function of particle loading, and the results were compared to the pure liquid jet case. The jets were found to be more stable with particles present. The length to breakup was increased, and the formation of satellite droplets was suppressed. The penetration and breakup of transverse jets in a Mach 3.0 air stream was studied. The general breakup mechanism of wave formation was found to be the same as for the all liquid case. Significant separation of the phases was observed, and the penetration of the liquid phase was reduced compared to all liquid cases at the same value of the jet to free stream momentum flux ratio.

Schetz, J. A.↗

Thunderstorm hazards flight research: Storm hazards 1980 overview

A highly instrumented NASA F-106B aircraft, modified for the storm hazards mission and protected against direct lightning strikes, was used in conjunction with various ground based radar and lightning measurement systems to collect data during thunderstorm penetration flights. During 69 thunderstorm penetrations, there were 10 direct lightning strikes to the aircraft. No problems were encountered with any of the aircraft's systems as a result of the strikes and the research instrumentation performed as designed. Electromagnetic characteristics of nine strikes were recorded, and the results of other experiments confirm the theory that X-ray radiation and nitrous oxide gas are being produced by processes associated directly with thunderstorm electric fields and lightning discharges. A better understanding of aircraft lightning attachment mechanisms and strike zones is being accomplished by careful inspection, identification, and documentation of lightning attachment points and swept stroke paths following each strike to the aircraft.

Deal, P. L.↗

Flashback flame arrester devices for fuel cargo tank vapor vents

The flame quenching capability of four types of flame arresting devices suitable for installation on fuel cargo tank vents of marine transport vessels is evaluated. A single 30 mesh screen, a dual 20 mesh screen, a spiral wound crimped metal ribbon, and a packed bed of ballast rings were tested. Flame speed and flame penetration of the test arresters were determined. Eight fuels representative of bulk cargoes were tested. The test arresters quenched a minimum of three flashback flames from all eight fuels, with one exception: high speed ethylene flames penetrated the dual 20 mesh screen on three tests. The arresters withstood the sustained flame from a propane/air mixture for 30 minutes. None of the arresters withstood the sustained flame from an ethylene/air mixture for more than 7 minutes.

Bjorklund, R. A.↗

Seismicity and the subduction process

There is considerable variation between subduction zones in the largest characteristic earthquake within each zone. Assuming that coupling between downgoing and upper plates is directly related to characteristic earthquake size, tests for correlations between variation in coupling and other physical features of subduction zones are conducted: the lateral extent and penetration depth of Benioff zones, age of subducting lithosphere, convergence rate, and back-arc spreading. Using linear multivariate regression, coupling is correlated with two variables: convergence rate and lithosphere age. Secondary correlations within the data set are penetration depth versus lithosphere age, and lateral extent versus convergence rate. Taken together, the observed correlations suggest a simple qualitative model where convergence rate and lithosphere age determine the horizontal and sinking rates, respectively, of slabs: these parameters influence the seismic coupling in the subduction zone. In the limit of a fast sinking rate and slow convergence rate, back-arc spreading occurs and thereby appears to be a passive process.

Ruff, L.↗

Convective overshooting in the evolution of very massive stars

Possible convective overshooting in stars of 30-120 solar masses are considered, including a merger between the convective core and the intermediate zone, and penetration by the outer convection zone into the hydrogen-shell region when the star is a supergiant. Convective mixing between the core and inner envelopes is found to lead to a brief renewal of hydrogen burning in the core, and a moderate widening of the main sequence bond in the H-R diagram. Deep penetration by the outer convection zone is found to force the star out of the red supergiant configuration and into a configuration near the main sequence. This would account for the apparent spread of the uppermost part of the main sequence and the concentration of luminous supergiants towards earlier spectral types. In addition, heavy mass loss need not be assumed to achieve the points of agreement, and are tentatively considered unimportant from an evolutionary point of view.

Stothers, R.↗

Energy Efficient Engine Exhaust Mixer Model Technology

An exhaust mixer test program was conducted to define the technology required for the Energy Efficient Engine Program. The model configurations of 1/10 scale were tested in two phases. A parametric study of mixer design options, the impact of residual low pressure turbine swirl, and integration of the mixer with the structural pylon of the nacelle were investigated. The improvement of the mixer itself was also studied. Nozzle performance characteristics were obtained along with exit profiles and oil smear photographs. The sensitivity of nozzle performance to tailpipe length, lobe number, mixer penetration, and mixer modifications like scalloping and cutbacks were established. Residual turbine swirl was found detrimental to exhaust system performance and the low pressure turbine system for Energy Efficient Engine was designed so that no swirl would enter the mixer. The impact of mixer/plug gap was also established, along with importance of scalloping, cutbacks, hoods, and plug angles on high penetration mixers.

Kozlowski, H.↗

Integration of SPS with utility system networks

The integration of Satellite Power System (SPS) power in electric utility power systems is discussed. Specifically, the nature of the power output variations from the spacecraft to the rectenna, the operational characteristics of the rectenna power, and the impacts on the electric utility system from utilizing SPS power to serve part of the system load are treated. It is concluded that if RF beam control is an acceptable method for power control, and that the site distribution of SPS rectennas do not cause a very high local penetration (40 to 50%), SPS may be integrated into electric utility system with a few negative impacts. Increased regulating duty on the conventional generation, and a potential impact on system reliability for SPS penetration in excess of about 25% appear to be two areas of concern.

Kaupang, B. M.↗

Anaerobic polymers as high vacuum leak sealants

Anaerobic polymers are useful as solventless leak sealants with good vacuum properties at moderate temperatures. Loctite 290 can seal leaks in a range generally encountered in carefully constructed ultrahigh vacuum and high vacuum systems. It was found that small leaks are sealed best under vacuum, whereas large leaks should be sealed at atmospheric pressure. The high-temperature behavior of Loctite 290 is limited by its fast cure, which prevents deep penetration into small leaks; cracking eventually occurs at the entrance to the leak. Repeated thermal cycling to about 300 C is possible, however, provided viscosity, curing time, and leak size are properly matched to ensure penetration into the body of the leak. This may require special formulations for high temperature vacuum applications.

Kendall, B. R. F.↗

Exploration of the asteroids

A mission to an earth-crossing asteroid would be useful to avert a threatened collision, to utilize its resources, or for scientific investigations. Realizable launch opportunities to 1943 Anteros occur about every two years, and the 1987 and 1990 opportunities are being extensively studied. The mission craft would carry remote sensing instruments and obtain the shape, size, surface structure, rotation rate, axis of rotation and color differences of the asteroid. The chemical composition of the surface and the gravitational field would be studied. Although a free fall landing on the surface is feasible, a soft landing that takes account of the asteroid's gravity and rotation is desirable. In situ experiments would be accomplished with the aid of a penetrator fired from a tube on the mother spacecraft with the penetrator carrying an accelerometer, alpha-scattering device, water detector, magnetometer and seismometer.

French, J. R., Jr.↗

Study of lubricant jet flow phenomena in spur gears: Out of mesh condition

The penetration depth onto the tooth flank of a jet of oil at different velocities pointed at the pitch line on the outgoing side of mesh was determined. The analysis determines the impingement depth for both the gear and the pinion. It includes the cases for speed increasers and decreasers as well as for one to one gear ratio. In some cases the jet will strike the loaded side of the teeth, and in others it will strike the unloaded side of the teeth. In nearly all cases the top land will be cooled regardless of the penetration depth, and postimpingement oil spray will usually provide adequate amounts of oil for lubrication but is marginal or inadequate for cooling.

Townsend, D. P.↗

Motion/visual cueing requirements for vortex encounters during simulated transport visual approach and landing

This paper addresses the issues of motion/visual cueing fidelity requirements for vortex encounters during simulated transport visual approaches and landings. Four simulator configurations were utilized to provide objective performance measures during simulated vortex penetrations, and subjective comments from pilots were collected. The configurations used were as follows: fixed base with visual degradation (delay), fixed base with no visual degradation, moving base with visual degradation (delay), and moving base with no visual degradation. The statistical comparisons of the objective measures and the subjective pilot opinions indicated that although both minimum visual delay and motion cueing are recommended for the vortex penetration task, the visual-scene delay characteristics were not as significant a fidelity factor as was the presence of motion cues. However, this indication was applicable to a restricted task, and to transport aircraft. Although they were statistically significant, the effects of visual delay and motion cueing on the touchdown-related measures were considered to be of no practical consequence.

Parrish, R. V.↗

Cavitation Erosion of Copper, Brass, Aluminum and Titanium Alloys in Mineral Oil

The variations of the mean depth of penetration, the mean depth rate of penetration, MDRP, the pit diameter 2a and depth h due to cavitation attack on Al 6061-T6, Cu, brass of composition Cu-35Zn-3Pb and Ti-5A1-2.5Sn are presented. The experiments are conducted in a mineral oil of viscosity 110 CS using a magnetostrictive oscillator of 20 kHz frequency. Based on MDRP on the materials, it is found that Ti-5Al-2.5Sn exhibits cavitation erosion resistance which is two orders of magnitude higher than the other three materials. The values of h/a are the largest for copper and decreased with brass, titanium, and aluminum. Scanning electron microscope studies show that extensive slip and cross slip occurred on the surface prior to pitting and erosion. Twinning is also observed on copper and brass.

Rao, B. C. S.↗

Turbulence and wave particle interactions in solar-terrestrial plasmas

Theoretical modelling of two dimensional compressible convection in the Sun shows that convective flows can extend over many pressure scale heights without the nonlinear motions becoming supersonic, and that compressional work arising from pressure fluctuations can be comparable to that by buoyancy forces. These results are contrary to what was supposed in prevailing mixing length models for solar convection, and they imply a much greater degree of organized flow extending over the full depth of the convection zone. The nonlinear penetration of motions into the stable region below the convection zone was emphasized. These compressible flows are dominated by downward directed plumes in the unstable zone. Their strong penetration into the region of stable stratification below excites a broad spectrum of internal gravity waves there, and these in turn feed back upon the convection in the unstable zone to produce a rich time dependence.

Dulk, G. A.↗

NDE detectability of fatigue type cracks in high strength alloys

Specimens suitable for investigating the reliability of production nondestructive evaluation (NDE) to detect tightly closed fatigue cracks in high strength alloys representative of those materials used in spacecraft engine/booster construction were produced. Inconel 718 was selected as representative of nickel base alloys and Haynes 188 was selected as representative of cobalt base alloys used in this application. Cleaning procedures were developed to insure the reusability of the test specimens and a flaw detection reliability assessment of the fluorescent penetrant inspection method was performed using the test specimens produced to characterize their use for future reliability assessments and to provide additional NDE flaw detection reliability data for high strength alloys. The statistical analysis of the fluorescent penetrant inspection data was performed to determine the detection reliabilities for each inspection at a 90% probability/95% confidence level.

Christner, B. K.↗

Seasonal carbon dioxide exchange between the regolith and atmosphere of Mars - Experimental and theoretical studies

CO2 penetration rate measurements have been made through basalt-clay soils under conditions simulating the penetration of the cap-induced seasonal CO2 pressure wave through the topmost regolith of Mars, and results suggest that existing theoretical models for the diffusion of a gas through a porous and highly adsorbing medium may be used to assess the importance of the Martian seasonal regolith-atmosphere CO2 exchange. The maximum effect of thermally driven exchange between the topmost seasonally (thermally) affected regolith and the atmosphere shows that, while this may be of greater importance than the isothermal exchange, the thermally driven exchange would be recognizable only if the pressure wave from CO2 exchanged at high latitudes did not propagate atmospherically faster than the rate at which the exchange itself occurred. This is an unreasonable assumption.

Fanale, F. P.↗

Quantum-chemical modeling of smectite clays

A self-consistent charge extended Hueckel program is used in modeling isomorphic substitution of Al(3+) by Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Fe(2+), and Fe(3+) in the octahedral layer of a dioctahedral smectite clay, such as montmorillonite. Upon comparison of the energies involved in the isomorphic substitution, it is found that the order for successful substitution is as follows: Al(3+), Fe(3+), Mg(2+), Fe(2+), Na(+), which is equivalent to Ca(2+), and then K(+). This ordering is found to be consistent with experimental observation. The calculations also make it possible to determine the possible penetration of metal ions into the clay's 2:1 crystalline layer. For the cases studied, this type of penetration can occur at elevated temperatures into regions where isomorphic substitution has occurred with metal ions that bear a formal charge of less than 3+. The computed behavior of the electronic structure in the presence of isomorphic substitution is found to be similar to behavior associated with semiconductors.

Aronowitz, S.↗

Reliability Studies for Fatigue-Crack Detection

Reusable test panels available to assess reliability of techniques that use fluorescent penetrant to detect fatigue cracks. Ultrasonic cleaning method developed for removing penetrant from panels prior to reuse.

Christner, B. K.↗

Experimental and theoretical study of combustion jet ignition

A combustion jet ignition system was developed to generate turbulent jets of combustion products containing free radicals and to discharge them as ignition sources into a combustible medium. In order to understand the ignition and the inflammation processes caused by combustion jets, the studies of the fluid mechanical properties of turbulent jets with and without combustion were conducted theoretically and experimentally. Experiments using a specially designed igniter, with a prechamber to build up and control the stagnation pressure upstream of the orifice, were conducted to investigate the formation processes of turbulent jets of combustion products. The penetration speed of combustion jets has been found to be constant initially and then decreases monotonically as turbulent jets of combustion products travel closer to the wall. This initial penetration speed to combustion jets is proportional to the initial stagnation pressure upstream of the orifice for the same stoichiometric mixture. Computer simulations by Chorin's Random Vortex Method implemented with the flame propagation algorithm for the theoretical model of turbulent jets with and without combustion were performed to study the turbulent jet flow field. In the formation processes of the turbulent jets, the large-scale eddy structure of turbulence, the so-called coherent structure, dominates the entrainment and mixing processes. The large-scale eddy structure of turbulent jets in this study is constructed by a series of vortex pairs, which are organized in the form of a staggered array of vortex clouds generating local recirculation flow patterns.

Chen, D. Y.↗