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Winkler, J. L., Jr.

Publications and source records attributed to Winkler, J. L., Jr..

Thermal conduction in a composite circular cylinder - A new technique for thermal conductivity measurements of lunar core samples

A technique is described for the measurement of the thermal conductivity of lunar core samples. According to their technique, the core sample is heated radiatively from the outside at a known rate, the temperature is measured at the surface of the core-tube, and the thermal conductivity of the sample is determined by comparing the measured temperature with the theory. The corresponding problems for a composite slab or sphere were solved and the solutions are presented for possible future application to the thermal conductivity measurements. The experimental apparatus construction and procedure are examined as well as the number of precautions taken to preserve the sample from disturbances and to improve the measurement results.

Horal, K.↗

Thermal conduction in a composite circular cylinder: A new technique for thermal conductivity measurements of lunar core samples

The core sample is heated from the outside at a known rate and the rise in temperature at the surface of the core tube is measured. Because the temperature at the surface, increasing with time, is a function of the thermal properties of both the core tube and the sample, the thermal properties of the sample can be estimated by comparing the measured temperature with the theory, provided that the thermal properties of the core tube are known. Thus it is not necessary to extract the sample from the core tube to make the measurements. Neither is it necessary to insert a heater, or temperature sensor, into the sample within the core tube, as would be required if another method were applied. The sample remains intact after the measurements. The temperature change in the sample can be kept to a minimum as long as the thermal conductivity determination is possible with a reasonable precision. If the radiative method of heat transfer is chosen, the core tube will only be in mechanical contact with the sample holder and a sensor attached to the core tube to measure the surface temperature, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of disturbing the sample.

Horai, K.↗

Thermal diffusivity of four Apollo 17 rock samples

The modified Angstrom technique was used to measure the thermal diffusivity of four Apollo 17 rock samples in air at pressures of 1 atm and one-millionth torr in the temperature range 80-460 K, and in CO2 at different pressures for various temperature ranges and at different temperatures for the range of interstitial CO2 gas pressure 1 atm to 0.0001 torr. The experiments with CO2 were intended to simulate Martian conditions, and it was found that the thermal diffusivity of lunar crystalline basalt and breccia varies very little with temperature in a simulated Martian environment, which indicates that the thermal processes in the Martian regolith could be more straightforward than in the lunar regolith.

Horai, K.-I.↗