Engineering topics

Schmidt, R. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Schmidt, R. M..

9 records

NASA NTRS1993

Pressure versus drag effects on crater size

The topic of atmospheric effects on crater formation is very complex because it includes not only pressure effects on excavation, but also drag effects on ejecta placement. Experiments have to be designed very carefully to allow isolation of the two phenomena. Historically, numerous investigators have shown an influence of atmospheric pressure. However, none have identified the scaling that correctly isolates pressure from drag effects. On-going work in explosive cratering has produced scaling paradigms for deeply buried explosive charges where drag effects are negligible. Here it was found that increased pressure caused significant induced strength effects that impeded crater excavation. The effect is more pronounced with increasing burial depth and less pronounced with increased yield.

Schmidt, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Point source solutions and coupling parameters in cratering mechanics

The use of a point source of an impactor energy and momentum to replace the effects of the impactor is examined. The general framework and notation of the impact cratering problems are described; it is determined that the cratering phenomena are governed by Froude, Cauchy, and Reynolds numbers. The coupling parameter concept is defined mathematically as the measure that governs limit point source solutions. Examples of cases where coupling parameters are used are presented. The relationships of the coupling parameter concept with steady flow and the Z-model of cratering of Maxwell (1973, 1977) are studied. Crater size, ejecta distributions, growth histories, time of formation, melt volume, and shock decay for various scale factors for impact cratering mechanics are calculated, and the applicability of the coupling parameter to the study of cratering mechanics is revealed.

Holsapple, K. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Centrifuge Impact Cratering Experiments

The kinematics of crater growth, impact induced target flow fields and the generation of impact melt were determined. The feasibility of using scaling relationships for impact melt and crater dimensions to determine impactor size and velocity was studied. It is concluded that a coupling parameter determines both the quantity of melt and the crater dimensions for impact velocities greater than 10km/s. As a result impactor radius, a, or velocity, U cannot be determined individually, but only as a product in the form of a coupling parameter, delta U micron. The melt volume and crater volume scaling relations were applied to Brent crater. The transport of melt and the validity of the melt volume scaling relations are examined.

Schmidt, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Experimental investigation of crater growth dynamics

This work is a continuation of an ongoing program whose objective is to perform experiments and to develop scaling relationships for large-body impacts onto planetary surfaces. The centrifuge technique is used to provide experimental data for actual target materials of interest. With both power and gas guns mounted on the rotor arm, it is possible to match various dimensionless similarity parameters, which have been shown to govern the behavior of large-scale impacts. The development of the centrifuge technique has been poineered by the present investigators and is documented by numerous publications, the most recent of which are listed below. Understanding the dependence of crater size upon gravity has been shown to be key to the complete determination of the dynamic and kinematic behavior of crater formation as well as ejecta phenomena. Three unique time regimes in the formation of an impact crater have been identified.

Schmidt, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Crater ejecta scaling laws - Fundamental forms based on dimensional analysis

Self-consistent scaling laws are developed for meteoroid impact crater ejecta. Attention is given to the ejection velocity of material as a function of the impact point, the volume of ejecta with a threshold velocity, and the thickness of ejecta deposit in terms of the distance from the impact. Use is made of recently developed equations for energy and momentum coupling in cratering events. Consideration is given to scaling of laboratory trials up to real-world events and formulations are developed for calculating the ejection velocities and ejecta blanket profiles in the gravity and strength regimes of crater formation. It is concluded that, in the gravity regime, the thickness of an ejecta blanket is the same in all directions if the thickness and range are expressed in terms of the crater radius. In the strength regime, however, the ejecta velocities are independent of crater size, thereby allowing for asymmetric ejecta blankets. Controlled experiments are recommended for the gravity/strength transition.

Housen, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1982

On the scaling of crater dimensions. II - Impact processes

Holsapple and Schmidt (1980) previously addressed the problem of the scaling of explosive cratering. Their analysis included results which show under which conditions the scaling can be bounded between quarter-root and cube-root rules. The present investigation is an extension of the earlier analysis and approaches the case of impact cratering. More restrictive bounds are found for impact cratering than for the explosive case. These stronger results come from considering the role of the impactor momentum as an independent variable for impact cratering. Attention is given to impact cratering variables, general scaling rules, the bounds on scaling rules, a generalization to more variables, and previous scaling rules and results.

Holsapple, K. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Estimates of crater size for large-body impact Gravity-scaling results

A scaling analysis based upon dimensional invariance is used in conjunction with centrifuge experiments to estimate cratering efficiency as a function of impact velocity for kilometer-sized impactors. Complementing earlier, conventional small-scale impact experiments, centrifuge experiments were performed to substantiate these scaling laws in a scaled-size regime of interest. This technique provided empirical scaling laws used to estimate crater size for large bodies impacting the earth. From these scaling laws a 10-km-diameter body impacting at 25 km/s would be expected to produce a 66-km-diameter crater and to inject approximately 12 times its mass into the atmosphere.

Schmidt, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Meteor Crater: Energy of formation - Implications of centrifuge scaling

Recent work on explosive cratering has demonstrated the utility of performing subscale experiments on a geotechnic centrifuge to develop scaling rules for very large energy events. The present investigation is concerned with an extension of this technique to impact cratering. Experiments have been performed using a projectile gun mounted directly on the centrifuge rotor to launch projectiles into a suitable soil container undergoing centripetal accelerations in excess of 500 G. The pump tube of a two-stage light-gas gun was used to attain impact velocities of approximately 2 km/sec. The results of the experiments indicate that the energy of formation of any large impact crater depends upon the impact velocity. This dependence, shown for the case of Meteor Crater, is consistent with analogous results for the specific energy dependence of explosives and is expected to persist to impact velocities in excess of 25 km/sec.

Schmidt, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1970

An improvement in blackbody cavity design

Setting the axis of the conical cavity at an angle to the axis of observation removes the imperfection at the apex of the cone from the direct observation area of the radiometer. Fillet no longer behaves as a nonuniformity in the blackbody.

Schmidt, R. M.↗