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At least 271 records · Page 15

Experiment 6: Surface Tension Driven Convection Experiment-2 (STDCE-2)

Results are reported from the Second Surface Tension Driven Convection Experiment (STDCE-2) performed aboard the Second United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-2), which flew as Space Shuttle mission STS-73 and launched on October 20, 1995. Oscillatory thermocapillary flows were investigated in open cylindrical containers filled with 2 centistokes kinematic viscosity (Pr=27 at 25 C) silicone oil. Two different heating modes were investigated in detail. The main objectives of the experiments were to determine the onset of oscillatory thermocapillary flow under highly reduced buoyancy and gravity conditions and to study the important features of the oscillatory flow. The onset conditions were determined in three different size containers (1.2-, 2-, and 3-cm diameter) and for various free surface shapes (flat and curved). Numerical and scaling analyses were also performed to understand the basic steady flows. The analysis shows that the main flow is viscous-dominated near the onset of oscillations. The onset conditions determined in the present experiments together with our earlier ground-based data show that one could not describe the oscillation phenomenon if the fluid free surface is assumed to be rigid. Therefore, a parameter representing free surface deformation was derived, and the data are shown to be correlated well by that parameter. The oscillation patterns and frequencies are also presented.

Ostrach, Simon↗

Use of Microgravity to Control the Microstructure of Eutectics

This grant began in June of 1996. Its long term goal is to be able to control the microstructure of directionally solidified eutectic alloys, through an improved understanding of the influence of convection. The primary objective of the projects in the present grant is to test hypotheses for the reported influence of microgravity on the microstructure of eutectics. The prior experimental results on the influence of microgravity on the microstructure of eutectics have been contradictory. With lamellar eutectics, microgravity had a negligible effect on the microstructure. Microgravity experiments with fibrous eutectics sometimes showed a finer microstructure and sometimes a coarser microstructure. Most research has been done on the MnBi/Bi rod-like eutectic. Larson and Pirich obtained a two-fold finer microstructure both from microgravity and by use of a magnetic field to quench buoyancy-driven convection. Smith, on the other hand, observed no change in microgravity. Prior theoretical work at Clarkson University showed that buoyancy-driven convection in the vertical Bridgman configuration is not vigorous enough to alter the concentration field in front of a growing eutectic sufficiently to cause a measurable change in microstructure. We assumed that the bulk melt was at the eutectic composition and that freezing occurred at the extremum, i.e. with minimum total undercooling at the freezing interface. There have been four hypotheses attempting to explain the observed changes in microstructure of fibrous eutectics caused by convection: I .A fluctuating freezing rate, combined with unequal kinetics for fiber termination and branching. 2. Off-eutectic composition, either in the bulk melt due to an off-eutectic feed or at the freezing interface because of departure from the extremum condition. 3. Presence of a strong habit modifying impurity whose concentration at the freezing interface would be altered by convection. At the beginning of the present grant, we favored the first of these hypotheses and set out to test it both experimentally and theoretically. We planned the following approaches: I .Pass electric current pulses through the MnBi/Bi eutectic during directional solidification in order to produce an oscillatory freezing rate. 2. Directionally solidify the MnBi/Bi eutectic on Mir using the QUELD II gradient freeze furnace developed by Professor Smith at Queen's University. 3. Select another fibrous eutectic system for investigation using the Accelerated Crucible Rotation Technique to introduce convection. 4. Develop theoretical models for eutectic solidification with an oscillatory freezing rate. Because of the problems with Mir, we substituted ground-based experiments at Queen's University with QUELD II vertical and horizontal, with and without vibration of the furnace. The Al-Si system was chosen for the ACRT experiments. Three related approaches were used to model eutectic solidification with an oscillatory freezing rate. A sharp interface model was used to calculate composition oscillations at the freezing interface in response to imposed freezing rate oscillations.

Wilcox. William R.↗

Bubble Dynamics on a Heated Surface

In this work, we study steady and oscillatory thermocapillary and natural convective flows generated by a bubble on a heated solid surface. The interaction between gas and vapor bubbles with the surrounding fluid is of interest for both space and ground-based processing. A combined numerical-experimental approach is adopted here. The temperature field is visualized using Mach-Zehnder and/or Wollaston Prism Interferometry and the flow field is observed by a laser sheet flow visualization technique. A finite element numerical model is developed which solves the transient two-dimensional continuity, momentum, and energy equations and includes the effects of temperature-dependent surface tension and bubble surface deformation. Below the critical Marangoni number, the steady state low-g and 1-g temperature and velocity fields predicted by the finite element model are in excellent agreement with both the visualization experiments in our laboratory and recently published experimental results in the literature. Above the critical Marangoni number, the model predicts an oscillatory flow which is also closely confirmed by experiments. It is shown that the dynamics of the oscillatory flow are directly controlled by the thermal and hydrodynamic interactions brought about by combined natural and thermocapillary convection. Therefore, as numerical simulations show, there are considerable differences between the 1-g and low-g temperature and flow fields at both low and high Marangoni numbers. This has serious implications for both materials processing and fluid management in space.

Kassemi, M.↗

Prediction of Unsteady Aerodynamic Coefficients at High Angles of Attack

The nonlinear indicial response method is used to model the unsteady aerodynamic coefficients in the low speed longitudinal oscillatory wind tunnel test data of the 0.1 scale model of the F-16XL aircraft. Exponential functions are used to approximate the deficiency function in the indicial response. Using one set of oscillatory wind tunnel data and parameter identification method, the unknown parameters in the exponential functions are estimated. The genetic algorithm is used as a least square minimizing algorithm. The assumed model structures and parameter estimates are validated by comparing the predictions with other sets of available oscillatory wind tunnel test data.

Pamadi, Bandu N.↗

Damping of Quasi-stationary Waves Between Two Miscible Liquids

Two viscous miscible liquids with an initially sharp interface oriented vertically inside a cavity become unstable against oscillatory external forcing due to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The instability causes growth of quasi-stationary (q-s) waves at the interface between the two liquids. We examine computationally the dynamics of a four-mode q-s wave, for a fixed energy input, when one of the components of the external forcing is suddenly ceased. The external forcing consists of a steady and oscillatory component as realizable in a microgravity environment. Results show that when there is a jump discontinuity in the oscillatory excitation that produced the four-mode q-s wave, the interface does not return to its equilibrium position, the structure of the q-s wave remains imbedded between the two fluids over a long time scale. The damping characteristics of the q-s wave from the time history of the velocity field show overdamped and critically damped response; there is no underdamped oscillation as the flow field approaches steady state. Viscous effects serve as a dissipative mechanism to effectively damp the system. The stability of the four-mode q-s wave is dependent on both a geometric length scale as well as the level of background steady acceleration.

Duval, Walter M. B.↗

Flow Control Analysis on the Hump Model with RANS Tools

A concerted effort is underway at NASA Langley Research Center to create a benchmark for Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) codes. both unstructured and structured, against a data set for the hump model with actuation. The hump model was tested in the NASA Langley 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. The CFD codes used for the analyses are the FUN2D (Full Unstructured Navier-Stokes 2-Dimensional) code, the structured TLNS3D (Thin-Layer Navier-Stokes 3-Dimensional) code, and the structured CFL3D code, all developed at NASA Langley. The current investigation uses the time-accurate Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach to predict aerodynamic performance of the active flow control experimental database for the hump model. Two-dimensional computational results verified that steady blowing and suction and oscillatory suction/blowing can be used to significantly reduce the separated flow region on the model. Discrepancies do exist between the CFD results and experimental data in the region downstream of the slot with the largest differences in the oscillatory cases. Overall, the structured CFD codes exhibited similar behavior with each other for a wide range of control conditions, with the unstructured FUN2D code showing moderately different results in the separated flow region for the suction and oscillatory cases.

Viken, Sally A.↗

Progressive Aerodynamic Model Identification From Dynamic Water Tunnel Test of the F-16XL Aircraft

Development of a general aerodynamic model that is adequate for predicting the forces and moments in the nonlinear and unsteady portions of the flight envelope has not been accomplished to a satisfactory degree. Predicting aerodynamic response during arbitrary motion of an aircraft over the complete flight envelope requires further development of the mathematical model and the associated methods for ground-based testing in order to allow identification of the model. In this study, a general nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic model is presented, followed by a summary of a linear modeling methodology that includes test and identification methods, and then a progressive series of steps suggesting a roadmap to develop a general nonlinear methodology that defines modeling, testing, and identification methods. Initial steps of the general methodology were applied to static and oscillatory test data to identify rolling-moment coefficient. Static measurements uncovered complicated dependencies of the aerodynamic coefficient on angle of attack and sideslip in the stall region making it difficult to find a simple analytical expression for the measurement data. In order to assess the effect of sideslip on the damping and unsteady terms, oscillatory tests in roll were conducted at different values of an initial offset in sideslip. Candidate runs for analyses were selected where higher order harmonics were required for the model and where in-phase and out-of-phase components varied with frequency. From these results it was found that only data in the angle-of-attack range of 35 degrees to 37.5 degrees met these requirements. From the limited results it was observed that the identified models fit the data well and both the damping-in-roll and the unsteady term gain are decreasing with increasing sideslip and motion amplitude. Limited similarity between parameter values in the nonlinear model and the linear model suggest that identifiability of parameters in both terms may be a problem. However, the proposed methodology can still be used with careful experiment design and carefully selected values of angle of attack, sideslip, amplitude, and frequency of the oscillatory data.

Murphy, Patrick C.↗

Electrophysiology of the mammillary complex in vitro. II. Medial mammillary neurons

1. The electrophysiological properties of guinea pig medial mammillary body (MMB) neurons were studied using an in vitro slice preparation. 2. The neurons (n = 80) had an average resting potential of -57 +/- 5.5 (SD) mV, an input resistance of 176 +/- 83 M omega, and a spike amplitude of 58 +/- 15.7 mV. Most of the neurons were silent at rest (n = 52), but some fired spontaneous single spikes (n = 16) or spike bursts (n = 14). 3. The main electrophysiological characteristic of MMB neurons was the ability to generate Ca(2+)-dependent regenerative events, which resulted in very robust burst responses. However, this regenerative event was not the same for all neurons, ranging from typical low-threshold Ca2+ spikes (LTSs) to intermediate-threshold plateau potentials (ITPs). 4. The ITPs were distinct from the LTSs in that they lasted > or = 100 ms and were not inactivated at membrane potentials at or positive to -55 mV. 5. Some cells with a prominent ITP and no LTS (n = 36) displayed repetitive, usually rhythmic, bursting (n = 14). This ITP could be powerful enough to maintain rhythmic membrane potential oscillations after pharmacological block of Na+ conductances. 6. A group of 32 MMB neurons displayed complex bursting that was generated by activation of both LTSs and ITPs. This was established on the basis of their distinct time- and voltage-dependent characteristics. In a group of neurons (n = 14), the burst responses were exclusively generated by an LTS; however, a Ca(2+)-dependent plateau potential contributed to the generation of rebound-triggered oscillatory firing. 7. In addition to the Ca(2+)-dependent LTS and/or ITP, MMB neurons always displayed high-threshold Ca2+ spikes after reduction of K+ conductances with tetraethylammonium. 8. MMB neurons display one of the richer varieties of voltage-dependent Ca2+ conductances so far encountered in mammalian CNS. We propose that the very prominent endogenous bursting and oscillatory properties of MB neurons allow this nuclear complex to function as an oscillatory relay for the transmission of low-frequency rhythmic activities throughout the limbic circuit.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗

A Theoretical Investigation of the Dynamic Lateral Stability Characteristics of the MX-838 (XB-51) Airplane

At the request of the Air Material Command, U. S. Air Force, a theoretical study has been made of the dynamic lateral stability characteristics of the MX-838 (XB-51) airplane. The calculations included the determination of the neutral-oscillatory-stability boundary (R = 0), the period and time to damp to one-half amplitude of the lateral oscillation, end the time to damp to one-half amplitude for the spiral mode. Factors varied in the investigation were lift coefficient, wing incidence, wing loading, and altitude. The results of the investigation showed that the lateral oscillation of the airplane is unstable below a lift coefficient of 1.2 with flaps . deflected 40deg but is stable over the entire speed range with flaps deflected 20deg or 0deg. The results showed that satisfactory oscillatory stability can probably be obtained for all lift coefficients with the proper variation of flap deflection and wing incidence with airspeed. Reducing the positive wing incidence improved the oscillatory stability characteristics. The airplane is spirally unstable for most conditions but the instability is mild and the Air Force requirements are easily met.

Paulson, Jon W.↗

Limit Cycle Analysis Applied to the Oscillations of Decelerating Blunt-Body Entry Vehicles

Many blunt-body entry vehicles have nonlinear dynamic stability characteristics that produce self-limiting oscillations in flight. Several different test techniques can be used to extract dynamic aerodynamic coefficients to predict this oscillatory behavior for planetary entry mission design and analysis. Most of these test techniques impose boundary conditions that alter the oscillatory behavior from that seen in flight. Three sets of test conditions, representing three commonly used test techniques, are presented to highlight these effects. Analytical solutions to the constant-coefficient planar equations-of-motion for each case are developed to show how the same blunt body behaves differently depending on the imposed test conditions. The energy equation is applied to further illustrate the governing dynamics. Then, the mean value theorem is applied to the energy rate equation to find the effective damping for an example blunt body with nonlinear, self-limiting dynamic characteristics. This approach is used to predict constant-energy oscillatory behavior and the equilibrium oscillation amplitudes for the various test conditions. These predictions are verified with planar simulations. The analysis presented provides an overview of dynamic stability test techniques and illustrates the effects of dynamic stability, static aerodynamics and test conditions on observed dynamic motions. It is proposed that these effects may be leveraged to develop new test techniques and refine test matrices in future tests to better define the nonlinear functional forms of blunt body dynamic stability curves.

Schoenenberger, Mark↗

Thermally Driven Josephson Effect

A concept is proposed of the thermally driven Josephson effect in superfluid helium. Heretofore, the Josephson effect in a superfluid has been recognized as an oscillatory flow that arises in response to a steady pressure difference between two superfluid reservoirs separated by an array of submicron-sized orifices, which act in unison as a single Josephson junction. Analogously, the thermally driven Josephson effect is an oscillatory flow that arises in response to a steady temperature difference. The thermally driven Josephson effect is partly a consequence of a quantum- mechanical effect known as the fountain effect, in which a temperature difference in a superfluid is accompanied by a pressure difference. The thermally driven Josephson effect may have significance for the development of a high-resolution gyroscope based on the Josephson effect in a superfluid: If the pressure-driven Josephson effect were used, then the fluid on the high-pressure side would become depleted, necessitating periodic interruption of operation to reverse the pressure difference. If the thermally driven Josephson effect were used, there would be no net flow and so the oscillatory flow could be maintained indefinitely by maintaining the required slightly different temperatures on both sides of the junction.

Penanen, Konstantin↗

An Exploratory Investigation of Some Types of Aeroelastic Instability of Open and Closed Bodies of Revolution Mounted on Slender Struts

Aeroelastic instability phenomena of isolated open and closed rigid bodies of revolution free to move under elastic restraint have been investigated experimentally at low speeds by means of models suspended at zero angles of attack and yaw on slender flexible struts from a wind tunnel ceiling. Three types of instability were observed - flutter similar to classical bending-torsion flutter, divergence, and an uncoupled oscillatory instability which consists in nonviolent continuous or intermittent small-amplitude oscillations involving only angular deformations. The speeds at which this oscillatory instability starts were found to be as low as about one-third of the speed at flutter or divergence and to depend on the shape of the body, particularly that of the afterbody, and on the relative location of the elastic axis. An attempt has been made to calculate the airspeeds and, in the case of the oscillatory phenomena, the frequencies at which these instabilities occur by using slender-body theory for the aerodynamic forces on the bodies and neglecting the aerodynamic forces on the struts. However, the agreement between the speeds and frequencies calculated in this manner and those actually observed has been found to be generally unsatisfactory; with the exception of the frequencies of the uncoupled oscillations which could be predicted with fair accuracy. The nature of the observed phenomena and of the forces on bodies of revolution suggests that a significant improvement in the accuracy of analytical predictions of these aeroelastic instabilities can be had only by taking into account the effects of boundary-layer separation on the aerodynamic forces.

Clevenson, S. A.↗

Isolation of Resistance-Bearing Microorganisms

To better exploit the principles of gas transport and mass transport during the processes of cell seeding of 3D scaffolds and in vitro culture of 3D tissue engineered constructs, the oscillatory cell culture bioreactor provides a flow of cell suspensions and culture media directly through a porous 3D scaffold (during cell seeding) and a 3D construct (during subsequent cultivation) within a highly gas-permeable closed-loop tube. This design is simple, modular, and flexible, and its component parts are easy to assemble and operate, and are inexpensive. Chamber volume can be very low, but can be easily scaled up. This innovation is well suited to work with different biological specimens, particularly with cells having high oxygen requirements and/or shear sensitivity, and different scaffold structures and dimensions. The closed-loop changer is highly gas permeable to allow efficient gas exchange during the cell seeding/culturing process. A porous scaffold, which may be seeded with cells, is fixed by means of a scaffold holder to the chamber wall with scaffold/construct orientation with respect to the chamber determined by the geometry of the scaffold holder. A fluid, with/without biological specimens, is added to the chamber such that all, or most, of the air is displaced (i.e., with or without an enclosed air bubble). Motion is applied to the chamber within a controlled environment (e.g., oscillatory motion within a humidified 37 C incubator). Movement of the chamber induces relative motion of the scaffold/construct with respect to the fluid. In case the fluid is a cell suspension, cells will come into contact with the scaffold and eventually adhere to it. Alternatively, cells can be seeded on scaffolds by gel entrapment prior to bioreactor cultivation. Subsequently, the oscillatory cell culture bioreactor will provide efficient gas exchange (i.e., of oxygen and carbon dioxide, as required for viability of metabolically active cells) and controlled levels of fluid dynamic shear (i.e., as required for viability of shear-sensitive cells) to the developing engineered tissue construct. This bioreactor was recently utilized to show independent and interactive effects of a growth factor (IGF-I) and slow bidirectional perfusion on the survival, differentiation, and contractile performance of 3D tissue engineering cardiac constructs. The main application of this system is within the tissue engineering industry. The ideal final application is within the automated mass production of tissue- engineered constructs. Target industries could be both life sciences companies as well as bioreactor device producing companies.

Venkateswaran, Kasthuri, J.↗

Oscillating Cell Culture Bioreactor

To better exploit the principles of gas transport and mass transport during the processes of cell seeding of 3D scaffolds and in vitro culture of 3D tissue engineered constructs, the oscillatory cell culture bioreactor provides a flow of cell suspensions and culture media directly through a porous 3D scaffold (during cell seeding) and a 3D construct (during subsequent cultivation) within a highly gas-permeable closed-loop tube. This design is simple, modular, and flexible, and its component parts are easy to assemble and operate, and are inexpensive. Chamber volume can be very low, but can be easily scaled up. This innovation is well suited to work with different biological specimens, particularly with cells having high oxygen requirements and/or shear sensitivity, and different scaffold structures and dimensions. The closed-loop changer is highly gas permeable to allow efficient gas exchange during the cell seeding/culturing process. A porous scaffold, which may be seeded with cells, is fixed by means of a scaffold holder to the chamber wall with scaffold/construct orientation with respect to the chamber determined by the geometry of the scaffold holder. A fluid, with/without biological specimens, is added to the chamber such that all, or most, of the air is displaced (i.e., with or without an enclosed air bubble). Motion is applied to the chamber within a controlled environment (e.g., oscillatory motion within a humidified 37 C incubator). Movement of the chamber induces relative motion of the scaffold/construct with respect to the fluid. In case the fluid is a cell suspension, cells will come into contact with the scaffold and eventually adhere to it. Alternatively, cells can be seeded on scaffolds by gel entrapment prior to bioreactor cultivation. Subsequently, the oscillatory cell culture bioreactor will provide efficient gas exchange (i.e., of oxygen and carbon dioxide, as required for viability of metabolically active cells) and controlled levels of fluid dynamic shear (i.e., as required for viability of shear-sensitive cells) to the developing engineered tissue construct. This bioreactor was recently utilized to show independent and interactive effects of a growth factor (IGF-I) and slow bidirectional perfusion on the survival, differentiation, and contractile performance of 3D tissue engineering cardiac constructs. The main application of this system is within the tissue engineering industry. The ideal final application is within the automated mass production of tissue- engineered constructs. Target industries could be both life sciences companies as well as bioreactor device producing companies.

Freed, Lisa E.↗

Evaluation of Drogue Parachute Damping Effects Utilizing the Apollo Legacy Parachute Model

Drogue parachute damping is required to dampen the Orion Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) crew module (CM) oscillations prior to deployment of the main parachutes. During the Apollo program, drogue parachute damping was modeled on the premise that the drogue parachute force vector aligns with the resultant velocity of the parachute attach point on the CM. Equivalent Cm(sub q) and Cm(sub alpha) equations for drogue parachute damping resulting from the Apollo legacy parachute damping model premise have recently been developed. The MPCV computer simulations ANTARES and Osiris have implemented high fidelity two-body parachute damping models. However, high-fidelity model-based damping motion predictions do not match the damping observed during wind tunnel and full-scale free-flight oscillatory motion. This paper will present the methodology for comparing and contrasting the Apollo legacy parachute damping model with full-scale free-flight oscillatory motion. The analysis shows an agreement between the Apollo legacy parachute damping model and full-scale free-flight oscillatory motion.

Currin, Kelly M.↗

Propellant-Flow-Actuated Rocket Engine Igniter

A rocket engine igniter has been created that uses a pneumatically driven hammer that, by specialized geometry, is induced into an oscillatory state that can be used to either repeatedly impact a piezoelectric crystal with sufficient force to generate a spark capable of initiating combustion, or can be used with any other system capable of generating a spark from direct oscillatory motion. This innovation uses the energy of flowing gaseous propellant, which by means of pressure differentials and kinetic motion, causes a hammer object to oscillate. The concept works by mass flows being induced through orifices on both sides of a cylindrical tube with one or more vent paths. As the mass flow enters the chamber, the pressure differential is caused because the hammer object is supplied with flow on one side and the other side is opened with access to the vent path. The object then crosses the vent opening and begins to slow because the pressure differential across the ball reverses due to the geometry in the tube. Eventually, the object stops because of the increasing pressure differential on the object until all of the kinetic energy has been transferred to the gas via compression. This is the point where the object reverses direction because of the pressure differential. This behavior excites a piezoelectric crystal via direct impact from the hammer object. The hammer strikes a piezoelectric crystal, then reverses direction, and the resultant high voltage created from the crystal is transferred via an electrode to a spark gap in the ignition zone, thereby providing a spark to ignite the engine. Magnets, or other retention methods, might be employed to favorably position the hammer object prior to start, but are not necessary to maintain the oscillatory behavior. Various manifestations of the igniter have been developed and tested to improve device efficiency, and some improved designs are capable of operation at gas flow rates of a fraction of a gram per second (0.001 lb/s) and pressure drops on the order of 30 to 50 kilopascal (a few psi). An analytical model has been created and tested in conjunction with a precisely calibrated reference model. The analytical model accurately captures the overall behavior of this innovation. The model is a simple "volume-orifice" concept, with each chamber considered a single temperature and pressure "node" connected to adjacent nodes, or to vent paths through flow control orifices. Mass and energy balances are applied to each node, with gas flow predicted using simple compressible flow equations.

Wollen, Mark↗

HERMeS Thruster Magnetic Field Topology Optimization Study: Performance, Stability, and Wear Results

NASA's Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS) 12.5kW Technology Demonstration Unit-1 (TDU-1) has been the subject of extensive technology maturation in preparation for flight system development. The TDU-1 thruster implements a magnetically shielded field topology and has demonstrated the elimination of the discharge channel erosion as a life limiting mechanism. Extensive wear testing the TDU Hall thrusters has identified the thruster front pole covers as the next life limiting component. This effort aims to explore and investigate alternate magnetic field topologies to assess whether reductions in the front pole cover erosion can be attained while still maintaining very low erosion rates on the discharge channel walls. Four candidate magnetic field topologies that reduce the effectiveness of the shielding along the discharge channel walls with the intent to also reduce the erosion rates along the front pole covers were designed. Three of the four candidate magnetic field topologies (B1, B2, and B4) have been manufactured and were subjected to an extensive test campaign that includes laser induced fluorescence (LIF), performance, stability, wear, plume, and thermal characterization. In Phase I, LIF measurements along the discharge chamber centerline found that upstream retraction of the thruster's peak magnetic field does result in an upstream shift of the acceleration zone but the magnitude of the shift does not correspond one-to-one to the shift in the location of the peak radial magnetic field magnitude. Phase II test segment results found at a normalized thruster magnetic field setting of 1, the thruster performance was very similar for all configurations. Discharge current waveforms ripple data indicated that configurations Bo, B1, and B2 has similar oscillatory profiles with the B2 configuration transitioning to higher oscillatory mode at 400V instead of the 450V observed for configurations B0 and B1. Configuration B4 ripple data indicates that the thruster was operating in a very oscillatory mode above 350V. Inner front pole cover erosion rates for configuration B1 were approximately 65% relative to B0 and the erosion rates for configuration B2 were 40% relative to B0. Analysis of the performance, stability, and wear test results of configurations B0, B1, B2, and B4 indicates that configuration B2 may present an alternative option for B0 because it mostly maintained the same performance and stability as configuration B0 but with 40% of the inner front pole cover erosion rate.

Kamhawi, Hani↗

Forced Displacement Technique for Measuring Blunt Body Aerodynamics in a Magnetic Suspension Wind Tunnel

The Old Dominion University/NASA Langley 6-Inch Magnetic Suspension Wind Tunnel has developed the ability to levitate blunt bodies which can oscillate freely about the yaw axis. This allows for the measurement of static and dynamic stability coefficients without sting interference. The magneic suspension controller introduces other translational forces which affect the vehicle dynamics complicating data reduction. Exciting model oscillations in a reliable way has also been a challenge. A new test method has been developed that produces capsule oscillations from forced oscillatory translational motion at the resonant yaw oscillatory frequency of the capsule. After oscillations are excited, the translational forcing motion is suspended to record free oscillation behavior as well. A data reduction method whereby a linear model of the translational and oscillatory motion is used to fit to the measured data and solve for aerodynamic coefficients has also been developed. The work presented shows that the new data reduction

blunt body↗