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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 379 records · Page 21
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NASA NTRS1981

An optical model for composite nuclear scattering

The optical model of composite particle scattering is considered and compared to the accuracies of other models. A nonrelativistic Schroedinger equation with two-body potentials is used for the scattering of a single particle by an energy-dependent local potential. The potential for the elastic channel is composed of matrix elements of a single scattering operator taken between the ground states of the projectile and the target; the coherent amplitude is considered as dominating the scattering in the forward direction. A multiple scattering series is analytically explored and formally summed by the solution of an equivalent Schroedinger equation. Cross sections of nuclear scattering are then determined for He-4 and C-12 nuclei at 3.6 GeV/nucleus and O-16 projectiles at 2.1 GeV/nucleus, and the optical model approximations are found to be consistently lower and more accurate than approximations made by use of Glauber's theory.

Wilson, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Impact cratering in viscous targets - Laboratory experiments

To determine the effects of target yield strength and viscosity on the formation and morphology of Martian multilobed, slosh and rampart-type impact craters, 75 experiments in which target properties and impact energies were varied were carried out for high-speed motion picture observation in keeping with the following sequence: (1) projectile initial impact; (2) crater excavation and rise of ejecta plume; (3) formation of a transient central mound which generates a surge of material upon collapse that can partly override the plume deposit; and (4) oscillation of the central mound with progressively smaller surges of material leaving the crater. A dimensional analysis of the experimental results indicates that the dimensions of the central mound are proportional to (1) the energy of the impacting projectile and (2) to the inverse of both the yield strength and viscosity of the target material, and it is determined that extrapolation of these results to large Martian craters requires an effective surface layer viscosity of less than 10 to the 10th poise. These results may also be applicable to impacts on outer planet satellites composed of ice-silicate mixtures.

Greeley, R.↗
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 NTRS1982

Fragmentation of ice by low velocity impact

Low-velocity impact experiments (0.14 to 1 km/s) carried out in polycrystalline water ice targets at 257 and 81 K reveal interactions which are assigned to four fragmentation classes: cratering, erosion, disruption, and total fragmentation. The specific kinetic energies for the transitions between these classes are found to be about one to two orders of magnitude below those for silicate rocks. The mass vs. cumulative number distribution of fragments in the experiments is described by a simple power law, similar to that observed in fragmented rocks both in the laboratory and in nature. The logarithmic slopes of cumulative number vs. fragment weight range from -0.9 to -1.8; they decrease with increasing projectile energy and are approximately independent of target temperature. The shapes of fragments resulting from erosion and disruption of ice targets are found to be significantly less spherical for 257 K targets than for 81 K targets. Fragment sphericity increases with increasing projectile energy at 257 K; however, no similar trend is observed for 81 K ice.

Lange, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Initial energy partitioning and some excavation stage phenomenology in laboratory-scale cratering calculations in clay

One impact and two explosive cratering calculations have been analyzed with emphasis on the early excavation stage. The early excavation stage is here defined as that part of the excavation stage that occurs after energy partitioning is 90% complete, but before the cratering flow field can be well described by Z-type flow fields with values of Z uniformly greater than two. Impact generated flow fields seem to have a much longer early excavation stage than explosion generated flow fields, due possibly to the slower momentum transfer versus energy transfer rate between projectile and target. During this time when the projectile retains a significant portion of its original momentum, Z values less than two are observed in the impact generated flow field. Z values less than two are not observed at any time in the explosion generated flow fields.

Austin, M. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Impact mechanics of the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction bolide

An examination of the mechanics of asteroidal, cometary, and meteor swarm impact on the earth determined if the enrichment of projectile material in the K-T layer is consistent with melts and impact breccias on the earth and moon, the size of the impacters, the distribution of the kinetic energy, and the sequence of impacts that could give rise to observed extinction phenomena. Flows resulting from spherical projectile impacts onto layers of air, water, and silicates were modeled and Eulerian finite difference algorithms were employed to solve conservation equations and equations of state. A range of speeds and impacter densities were considered, along with sizes from 0.17 km, which would be consumed in the atmosphere, to a 10 km object, which would have had a diameter greater than a reference 7.1 km atmosphere depth. It is concluded that an impact of the K-T bolide could result in global biotic extinction and worldwide material deposition.

Okeefe, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Z-model analysis of impact cratering - An overview

The Maxwell Z-Model has been applied to two continuum mechanics computer calculations: (1) a laboratory-scale impact of an aluminum projectile into plasticene clay, and (2) a planetary-scale impact of an iron meteor into gabbroic anorthosite. The material flow in the cratering flow field may be well approximated by incompressible flow for most of the excavation stage of crater growth. The center of the flow field is located beneath, not at, the surface. Soon after energy partitioning is complete, Z can assume values less than 2.0 associated with the initial directedness of the projectile's momentum. The Z-Model parameters are time dependent during a significant portion of the crater growth time, and Z increases steadily with time from about 2.0 or slightly less at the beginning of the excavation stage to level off at values in the neighborhood of about 3.0 before the excavation stage is half-over.

Austin, M. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Progressive impact cratering

Most cratering experiments are designed to study the effects of a single hypervelocity impact into a target of uniform properties. Experiments involving multiple impacts are usually limited to low velocity projectiles and unconsolidated target materials. Gault described saturation cratering in an unconsolidated target. Quaide and Oberbeck studied crater forms produced by hypervelocity impact into layered targets. Several investigators have modeled the generation of either a regolith or megaregolith by repeated impact on planetary surfaces. Studies now in progress examine changes in crater morphology and target properties by repeated impact into an initially consolidated target. Current studies employ low velocity projectiles (2 g at 0.5 km/sec) and consolidated salt targets. Records of crater size, morphology, and accumulated ejecta thickness are maintained as impacts collect on the surface.

Dehon, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The effect of viscosity on impact cratering and possible application to the icy satellites of Saturn and Jupiter

Impact experiments in Newtonian fluids with a range of viscosities of 0.001 to 60 Pa s demonstrate that transient crater volume and shape depend on target viscosity as well as on gravity. Volume is reduced, and depth-to-diameter ratio is increased for cratering events in which viscosity plays a dominant role. In addition to being affected by target kinematic viscosity, viscous scaling is most strongly influenced by projectile diameter, less strongly by projectile velocity, and least strongly by gravity. In a planetary context, viscous effects can occur for craters formed by small or slow moving impacting bodies, low planetary surface densities, high surface viscosities, and low gravity values; conditions all likely for certain impacts into the icy satellites of Saturn and Jupiter, especially if liquid mantles were still present beneath solid crusts. Age dating based on crater counts and size-frequency distributions for these icy bodies may have to be modified to account for the possibility that viscosity-dominated craters were initially smaller and deeper than their gravity-controlled counterparts.

Fink, J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Energy partitioning in an inductively driven rail gun

The equations describing the performance of an inductively driven rail are analyzed numerically. Friction between the projectile and rails is included through an empirical formulation. The equations are applied to the experiment of Rashleigh and Marshall to obtain an estimate of energy distribution in rail guns as a function of time. It is found that only 15 percent of energy delivered by the inductor to the gun is transformed into the kinetic energy of the projectile. This study provides an insight into the nature of nonlinear coupling involved in the electromechanical interactions in a rail gun.

Sen, K. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Comet flyby sample return experiment

Dust from several comets can be returned to earth with minimum propulsion effort after a high-speed encounter. The collection concept involves the capture of individual dust particles by condensation in a cell after vaporization by a thin diaphragm. This collection concept has been validated in laboratory tests. To compensate for the slower laboratory velocities in a two-stage light-gas gun, higher-density metals (Zn and Cd) have been used for particles and diaphragms to simulate hypervelocity vaporization. Teflon has proved to be a suitable material for the collection cell; more than 50 percent of the vaporized projectile material has been recovered by chemical etching from such cells. Hypervelocity-impact parameters (such as diaphragm-to-projectile ratio, hole size, and plume angles) determined by tests permit the modification of existing analytical models. These new findings are necessary for flyby cometary experiments.

Tsou, P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Arc-driven rail gun research

The equations describing the performance of an inductively-driven rail gun are analyzed numerically. Friction between the projectile and rails is included through an empirical formulation. The equations are applied to the experiment of Rashleigh and Marshall to obtain an estimate of energy distribution in rail guns as a function of time. The effect of frictional heat dissipation on the bore of the gun is calculated. The mechanism of plasma and projectile acceleration in a dc rail gun is described from a microscopic point of view through the establishment of the Hall field. The plasma conductivity is shown to be a tensor indicating that there is a small component of current parallel to the direction of acceleration. The plasma characteristics are evaluated as a function of plasma mass through a simple fluid mechanical analysis of the plasma. By equating the energy dissipated in the plasma with the radiation heat loss, the properties of the plasma are determined.

Ray, P. K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Comments on collision mechanics in ring systems

Collisions within planetary ring systems, especially Saturn's, are discussed. The particles may have coherent icy cores and less coherent granular or frosty surface layers, consistent with thermal eclipse observations. Collisions do not cause catastrophic fragmentation of the particles, although minor surface erosion and reaccretion is possible. Evolution by collisional fragmentation is thus not as important as in the asteroid belt. Models suggest that the fractional number of projectile masses dislodged when solid (or solid-core) projectiles strike solid ice or granular surface layers does not exceed the order of 10 to the minus 7th to minus 9th power. Even at this rate, the half life of ring particles would be less than the age of the solar system in crowded ring regions unless there was very efficient reaccretion. A plausible ring particle model involves solid ice cores with granular surface layers that exchange material by slow erosion and efficient reaccretion; the granular layers protect the cores from rapid erosion.

Hartmann, W. K.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Effect of low-velocity or ballistic impact damage on the strength of thin composite and aluminum shear panels

Impact tests were conducted on shear panels fabricated from 6061-T6 aluminum and from woven fabric prepreg of Du Pont Kevlara fiber/epoxy resin and graphite fiber/epoxy resin. The shear panels consisted of three different composite laminates and one aluminum material configuration. Three panel aspect ratios were evaluated for each material configuration. Composite panels were impacted with a 1.27-cm (0.05-in) diameter aluminum sphere at low velocities of 46 m/sec (150 ft/sec) and 67 m/sec (220 ft/sec). Ballistic impact conditions consisted of a tumbled 0.50-caliber projectile impacting loaded composite and aluminum shear panels. The results of these tests indicate that ballistic threshold load (the lowest load which will result in immediate failure upon penetration by the projectile) varied between 0.44 and 0.61 of the average failure load of undamaged panels. The residual strengths of the panels after ballistic impact varied between 0.55 and 0.75 of the average failure strength of the undamaged panels. The low velocity impacts at 67 m/sec (220 ft/sec) caused a 15 to 20 percent reduction in strength, whereas the impacts at 46 m/sec (150 ft/sec) resulted in negligible strength loss. Good agreement was obtained between the experimental failure strengths and the predicted strength with the point stress failure criterion.

Farley, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Cross sections for the production of fragments with Z greater than or equal to 8 by fragmentation of Z greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 26 nuclei

Charge changing nuclear collisions in plastic nuclear track detectors were studied using a new experimental technique of automatic track measurement for etched tracks in plastic detectors. Partial cross sections for the production of fragments of charge Z approximately 8 were measured for projectile nuclei of charge 9 approximately Z approximately 26 in the detector material CR39 and in silver. for this purpose three independent experiments were performed using Bevalac beams. The first one was an exposure of a stack of CR39 plastic plates to 1.8 GeV/nucl. Ar-40 nuclei. The second one was an exposure of another CR39 stack of 1.7 GeV/nucl. Fe-56 projectiles. In the third experiment a mixed stack of CR39 plates and silver foils was irradiated with 1.7 GeV/nucl. Fe-56 nuclei. Thus the measurement of nuclear cross sections in a light target (CR39 = C12H18O7) and as well in a heavy target (silver) was possible.

Heinrich, W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Low P sub T hadron-nucleus interactions

The possibility of describing hadron-nucleus (hA) interactions is discussed in terms of a number of independent collisions of the projectile inside the target nucleus. This multiple rescattering may occur on a particle or quark parton level. To investigate the characteristics of hA interactions as a function of antineutrinos advantage is taken of the correlation between the average number antineutrinos of collisions of the projectile inside the nucleus and the number Ng of fast protons ejected from the struck nucleus. The relation antineutrinos vs Ng obtained in antineutrinos was used. For a given target nucleus this allows the selection of interactions occurring at different impact parameters.

Holynski, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A particle-hole calculation for pion production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

A differential cross section for pi-meson production in peripheral heavy-ion collisions is formulated within the context of a particle-hole model in the Tamm-Dancoff approximation. This is the first attempt at a fully quantum-mechanical particle-hole calculation for pion production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The particular reaction studied is an O-16 projectile colliding with a C-12 target at rest. In the projectile a linear combination of isobar-hole states is formed, with the possibility of a coherent isobar giant resonance. The target can be excited to its giant M1 resonance (J-pi = 1(+), T = 1) at 15.11 MeV, or to its isobar analog neighbors, B-12 at 13.4 MeV and N-12 at 17.5 MeV. The theory is compared to recent experimental results.

Norbury, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Symposium on Numerical and Physical Aspects of Aerodynamic Flows, 3rd, California State University, Long Beach, CA, January 21-24, 1985, Proceedings

Among the topics discussed are hydrodynamic stability and turbulent transition, separated flow simulations employing finite difference methods, a quasi-simultaneous finite difference approach for strongly interacting flow, the Newton solution of coupled Euler and boundary layer equations, multielement airfoil aerodynamics, vorticity dynamics, the significance of the thin layer Navier-Stokes approximation, a comparison of interactive and Navier-Stokes calculations of separating boundary layer flows, and a Navier-Stokes analysis for the mechanism of shock wave/boundary layer interactions. Also discussed are transonic interactions of unsteady vortical flows, boundary layers on oscillating airfoils, a laser-interferometer skin friction meter, flow over surface-mounted semibluff bodies, computations for spinning and spin-stabilized supersonic projectiles, transition calculations in three-dimensional flows, the effect of projectile boattailing in transonic flow, flow characteristics of a body of revolution at incidence, the influence of the boundary layer on the leading edge flow of a swept wing, and an interactive scheme for three-dimensional transonic flows.

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