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At least 379 records · Page 21

Multiple shock-shock interference on a cylindrical leading edge

The details of an experimental study of shock wave interference heating on a cylindrical leading edge representative of the cowl of a rectangular hypersonic engine inlet are presented. This Mach 8 study has provided the first detailed pressure and heat transfer rate distributions on a cylinder resulting from a two-dimensional shockwave interference pattern created by two incident oblique shock waves intersecting the cylinder bow shock wave. The peak heat transfer rate was 38 times the undisturbed flow stagnation point level and occurred when the two oblique shock waves coalesced prior to intersecting the cylinder bow shock wave. Development of pressure deflection diagrams identified a new interference pattern consisting of concomitant supersonic jets separated from each other by a shear layer and submerged in the subsonic region between the bow shock wave and body.

Wieting, Allan R.↗

Further Assessment of MVD Effects in SLD Applications

The study reported here is part of an effort to develop scaling methods for super cooled large droplet (SLD) conditions. Previously reported results showed that SLD main ice shapes can be simulated quite successfully by appendix C conditions using scaling methods developed for appendix C. However, when the velocity was higher than 100 kt, the feather size and density for SLD tests at MVDs well above 100 m was not well represented by the scaled appendix C conditions. This paper reports additional results of a study of the feather region with the objective of identifying differences between SLD and appendix C feathers. Both the feather appearance and the angle at which feathers grow from the airfoil surface were recorded over a range of MVD from 20 to 190 m for airspeeds of 100 and 200 kt and stagnation freezing fractions of 0.3 to 1.0. Tests were performed in the NASA Glenn Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) using a 91-cm-chord NACA0012 airfoil model mounted at 0 degrees AOA. Photographs are presented to illustrate details of feather appearance. Appearance was noticeably affected by the stagnation freezing fraction of the test, but not by velocity or MVD. The angle of feather growth relative to the chord line decreased with increasing stagnation freezing fraction. For a velocity of 100 kt, no significant effect of MVD on feather angle was apparent, but at 200 kt, feather angle tended to increase with MVD for glaze conditions, but not rime. This finding is based on limited data, and its significance with respect to icing physics has not been determined.

Tsao, Jen-Ching↗

Ignition and subsequent flame spread over a thin cellulosic material

Both ignition and flame spread on solid fuels are processes that not only are of considerable scientific interest but that also have important fire safety applications. Both types of processes, ignition and flame spread, are complicated by strong coupling between chemical reactions and transport processes, not only in the gas phase but also in the condensed phase. In most previous studies, ignition and flame spread were studied separately with the result that there has been little understanding of the transition from ignition to flame spread. In fire safety applications this transition is crucial to determine whether a fire will be limited to a localized, temporary burn or will transition into a growth mode with a potential to become a large fire. In order to understand this transition, the transient mechanisms of ignition and subsequent flame spread must be studied. However, there have been no definitive experimental or modeling studies, because of the complexity of the flow motion generated by buoyancy near the heated sample surface. One must solve the full Navier-Stokes equations over an extended region to represent accurately the highly unstable buoyant plume and entrainment of surrounding gas from far away. In order to avoid the complicated nature of the starting plume problem under normal gravity, previous detailed radiative ignition models were assumed to be one-dimensional or were applied at a stagnation point. Thus, these models cannot be extended to include the transition to flame spread. The mismatch between experimental and calculated geometries means that theories cannot be compared directly with experimental results in normal gravity. To overcome the above difficulty, theoretical results obtained without buoyancy can be directly compared with experimental data measured in a microgravity environment. Thus, the objective of this study is to develop a theoretical model for ignition and the transition to flame spread and to make predictions using the thermal and chemical characteristics of a cellulosic material which are measured in normal gravity.

Nakabe, Kazuyoshi↗

A Thermostructural Analysis of a Diboride Composite Leading Edge

In an effort to support the design of zirconium diboride composite leading edges for hypersonic vehicles, a finite element model (FEM) of a prototype leading edge was created and finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to assess its thermal and structural response to aerothermal boundary conditions. Unidirectional material properties for the structural components of the leading edge, a continuous fiber reinforced diboride composite, were computed with COSTAR. These properties agree well with those experimentally measured. To verify the analytical approach taken with COSMOS/M, an independent FEA of one of the leading edge assembly components was also done with COSTAR. Good agreement was obtained between the two codes. Both showed that a unidirectional lay-up had the best margin of safety for a simple loading case. Both located the maximum stress in the same region and ply. The magnitudes agreed within 4 percent. Trajectory based aerothermal heating was then applied to the leading edge assembly FEM created with COSMOS/M to determine steady state temperature response, displacement, stresses, and contact forces due to thermal expansion and thermal strains. Results show that the leading edge stagnation line temperature reached 4700 F. The maximum computed failure index for the laminated composite components peaks at 4.2, and is located at the bolt flange in layer 2 of the side bracket. The temperature gradient in the tip causes a compressive stress of 279 ksi along its width and substantial tensile stresses within its depth.

Kowalski, Tom↗

A Method for Computing Turbulent Heat Transfer in the Presence of a Streamwise Pressure Gradient for Bodies in High-Speed Flow

A modified Reynolds analogy between skin friction and heat transfer which depends upon local pressure gradient is derived. Exact and approximate solutions are derived from the differential equations; the exact solution is applicable for arbitrary initial (transition) conditions and the approximate solution requires fully developed turbulent flow from stagnation point or leading edge. The exact solution (restricted to stagnation initial conditions) and the approximate solutions are shown to agree with one another within 5 percent when applied to several blunt shapes. The present solutions generally predict the measured heating rates on these bodies within the accuracy of the measurements provided transition began upstream of the peak heating region. The present solutions appear to be sufficiently accurate for design purposes.

Cohen, Nathaniel B.↗

Toward Verification of RANS Simulations of the T-Tube Modular Divertor Using Large Eddy Simulations of Impinging Turbulent Plane Jets

Turbulent impinging jets have been proposed to cool high heat flux plasma-facing components such as the solid tungsten target plates of the divertor in long-pulse magnetic fusion energy reactors. In particular, the T-tube modular divertor, originally developed by the ARIES Team, consists of two concentric cylindrical tubes where helium flows through a slot in the inner tube, forming an approximately planar jet that impinges upon and cools the inner surface of the pressure boundary (namely, the outer tube) and the ~15-cm 2 plasma-facing W target. The objective of this work is to demonstrate that large eddy simulations (LESs) accurately simulate the thermal transport in canonical flows that comprise the cooling flow in the T-tube, as well as validate temperatures from LES with experimental measurements in a simplified T-tube geometry. Wall‑resolved LESs, validated by experimental data and verified by direct numerical simulations (DNSs), provide benchmark data for two canonical flows in the T‑tube, namely, planar impinging and wall jets, for Reynolds numbers Re B = 4 × 10 3 to 2 × 10 4 . Our LES results are within 4% to 12% root-mean-square error (RMSE) of surface Nusselt number distributions (Nu) from experiments and DNSs. The validated LES results are then used as the ground truth to evaluate four Reynolds‑averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence closures, namely, the k‑ω SST, realizable k‑ε, GEKO, and γ‑SST models. The k‑ω SST model has the best overall performance in terms of heat transfer, giving surface Nu within 12% RMSE of the LES results for high‑ReB impinging jets and reduced overprediction in the wall‑jet region. The GEKO model with default constants has the next best performance, providing slightly better Nu predictions for low ReB impinging jets (versus k-ω SST) but worse overall performance over the full range of ReB studied here. The realizable k‑ε turbulence model significantly overestimates turbulence near the stagnation point, while the γ‑SST model suppresses near‑wall production, biasing the simulations toward simulating laminar surface heat transfer. Simulations of the simplified T‑tube show that LES and RANS simulations with the k‑ω SST model give nearly identical average heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) over the impingement surface. The realizable k‑ε model predicts significantly lower wall temperatures due to overestimation of HTC in the outlet flow.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Thermostructural testing of instrumented ATJ-S graphite nosetip models in the AFFDL 50 MW rent facility

Instrumented ATJ-S graphite shell nosetip models were tested in the AFFDL 50 MW RENT Facility. The inside surface of the models were instrumented with seven thermocouples and three clip-on extensometers. One thermocouple was located at the inside stagnation point and three thermocouples were located at 120 degree intervals on the aft portion of the skirt of the model. In addition, three thermocouples at 120 degree intervals plus three clip-on extensometers at 120 degree intervals offset 60 degrees from the thermocouples were located in the critical region. The outside surface temperature of the models was monitored in two locations by optical pyrometers. Finally, the tests were recorded by three high speed motion picture cameras. Pressure models and calorimeters were also tested in order to help define the flow field condition and heating distribution around the models.

Budde, C. L.↗

A feature of the behavior of He/+/ in the nightside high-latitude ionosphere during equinox

Observations of a hole of ionization in the nightside high-latitude ionosphere during equinox in which He(+) plays an important role in the relative abundance of the ionic constituents are reported. Ion abundance data were obtained during a period of very low magnetic activity from the retarding potential analyzer and magnetic ion mass spectrometer on board AE-D as the satellite passed across the polar region near midnight. Significant decreases in O(+) and H(+) concentrations are observed in the region between 1544 and 1547 UT within the polar cap, accompanied by the rise and dominance of He(+) ions to low altitudes. The dominance of He(+) is attributed to effects on photoproduction of changes in solar zenith angle as the plasma moves from the dayside to the nightside, where it stagnates or resides for periods greater than about 3 hours just poleward of the auroral zone. Model calculations of the physical processes involved in this mechanism are presented which in general tend to fit the observations.

Heelis, R. A.↗

Measurements of local convective heat transfer coefficients on ice accretion shapes

The thin-skin heat rate technique was used to determine local convective heat transfer coefficients for four representative ice accretion shapes. The shapes represented three stages of glaze ice formation and one rime ice formation; the ice models had varying degrees of surface roughness. In general, convective heat transfer was higher in regions where the model's surfaces were convex and lower in regions where the surfaces were concave. The effect of roughness was different for the glaze and rime ice shapes. On the glaze ice shapes, roughness increased the maximum Nu by 80 percent, but the other Nu values were virtually unchanged. On the rime ice shape, the Nu numbers near the stagnation point were unchanged. The maximum Nu value increased by 45 percent, and the Nu number downstream of the peak increased by approximately 150 percent.

Arimilli, R. V.↗

Transient Growth Analysis of Compressible Boundary Layers with Parabolized Stability Equations

The linear form of parabolized linear stability equations (PSE) is used in a variational approach to extend the previous body of results for the optimal, non-modal disturbance growth in boundary layer flows. This methodology includes the non-parallel effects associated with the spatial development of boundary layer flows. As noted in literature, the optimal initial disturbances correspond to steady counter-rotating stream-wise vortices, which subsequently lead to the formation of stream-wise-elongated structures, i.e., streaks, via a lift-up effect. The parameter space for optimal growth is extended to the hypersonic Mach number regime without any high enthalpy effects, and the effect of wall cooling is studied with particular emphasis on the role of the initial disturbance location and the value of the span-wise wavenumber that leads to the maximum energy growth up to a specified location. Unlike previous predictions that used a basic state obtained from a self-similar solution to the boundary layer equations, mean flow solutions based on the full Navier-Stokes (NS) equations are used in select cases to help account for the viscous-inviscid interaction near the leading edge of the plate and also for the weak shock wave emanating from that region. These differences in the base flow lead to an increasing reduction with Mach number in the magnitude of optimal growth relative to the predictions based on self-similar mean-flow approximation. Finally, the maximum optimal energy gain for the favorable pressure gradient boundary layer near a planar stagnation point is found to be substantially weaker than that in a zero pressure gradient Blasius boundary layer.

Compressible boundary layer↗

Shock-tube studies of radiative base heating of Jovian probe

A 6.4-cm-diameter scale model of the Jovian entry vehicle is tested in an electric-arc-driven shock tube and a 5-cm-diameter sphere model is tested in a combustion-driven shock tube and in an electric-arc-driven shock tunnel. The radiative heat-transfer rate and pressure on the front and the base regions are measured in the absence of ablation with sensors imbedded in the models in a stream consisting of 10% hydrogen in a bath of either neon or argon. The measured radiative heat-transfer rates and pressures range to about 22 kW/sq cm and 12 atm, respectively, at the front stagnation point. The ratio of the radiative heat-transfer rate at the base stagnation point to that at the front stagnation point is found to be about 1/4 for the sphere at Mach 1.8, about 1/30 for the sphere at Mach 4.8, and about 1/6 for the scale model at Mach 1.7. The present experimental results agree well with the theoretical predictions of Park, thus indicating that Park's theory is valid.

Shirai, H.↗

Experimental studies of radiative base heating of a Jovian entry model

A scale model of the Jovian entry vehicle of 6.4 cm diameter is tested in an electric-arc-driven shock tube while a sphere model of 5 cm diameter is tested in a combustion-driven shock tube and an electric-arc-driven shock tunnel. The radiative heat-transfer rate and pressure on the front and the base regions are measured in the absence of ablation with sensors imbedded in the models in a stream consisting of 10% hydrogen in a bath of either neon or argon. The measured radiative heat-transfer rates and pressures are up to about 22 kW/sq cm and 12 atm, respectively, at the front stagnation point. The ratio of the base-to-stagnation-point radiative heat-transfer rates is found to be about 1/4 for the sphere at Mach 1.8, about 1/30 for the sphere at Mach 4.8, and about 1/6 for the scale model at Mach 1.7. When the effects of model geometry and Mach number are accounted for, the present experimental results agree well with the theoretical prediction of Park.

Shirai, H.↗

The temperature of unheated bodies in a high-speed gas stream

The present report deals with temperature measurements on cylinders of 0.2 to 3 millimeters diameter in longitudinal and transverse air flow at speeds of 100 to 300 meters per second. Within the explored test range, that is, the probable laminar boundary layer region, the temperature of the cylinders in axial flow is practically independent of the speed and in good agreement with Pohlhausen's theoretical values; Whereas, in transverse flow, cylinders of certain diameter manifest a close relationship with speed, the ratio of the temperature above the air of the body to the adiabatic stagnation temperature decreases with rising speed and then rises again from a Mach number of 0.6. The importance of this "specific temperature" of the body for heat-transfer studies at high speed is discussed.

Eckert, E↗

Investigations of Arcjet Flow Thermochemistry

An experimental and numerical investigation of the thermochemical state of arcjet flows is currently being conducted at NASA Ames Research Center. The experimental approach relies on the use of laser- and emission-spectroscopic diagnostic techniques in three regions of the flow. A fiber optic sensor is used to record spectrally resolved emission signals from the electrode package region, where the flow is most likely to be in thermochemical equilibrium. A second emission diagnostic measurement is made in the shock layer formed over a blunt-body test article placed in the stream, and a CCD camera is used to simultaneously record spectral emission from several measurement locations along the stagnation streamline. Downstream of the nozzle exit, but upstream of the test article, Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) of atomic nitrogen is used to assess the nonequilibrium distribution of flow enthalpy in the free stream. Results from the measurements are compared with predictions from a two-temperature, axisymmetric flow model that solves the nozzle and shock-layer flows.

Fletcher, Douglas G.↗

Radiometric investigation of the wake flow of the forthcoming Aeroassist Flight Experiment

This paper describes the rationale for conducting the proposed radiation measurement in the afterbody region of the Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE) vehicle, the results of the calculations of expected radiation intensities performed to date, and the instrumentation for the measurement. The experiment, named the Afterbody Radiometry Experiment (ARE), is one of the experiments that will be carried on board the AFE vehicle. The paper collates the existing experimental data to show the possibility that there may be substantial radiative heating of the afterbody region of an Aeroassisted Space Transfer Vehicle, which necessitates an experiment of the kind proposed. Calculations of the radiative heating rate to the base of the AFE are, qualitatively, in fair agreement with previous experimental work, which indicated that the radiative heating of the base is about 5 percent of that at the stagnation point.

Strawa, A. W.↗

Simulation of a turbulent flame in a channel

The interaction between turbulent premixed flames and channel walls is studied. Combustion is represented by a simple irreversible reaction with a large activation temperature. Feedback to the flowfield is suppressed by invoking a constant density assumption. The effect of wall distance on local and global flame structure is investigated. Quenching distances and maximum wall heat fluxes computed in laminar cases are compared to DNS results. It is found that quenching distances decrease and maximum heat fluxes increase relative to laminar flame values. It is shown that these effects are due to large coherent structures which push flame elements towards to wall. The effect of wall strain is studied in flame-wall interaction in a stagnation line flow; this is used to explain the DNS results. It is also shown that 'remarkable' flame events are produced by interaction with a horseshoe vortex: burnt gases are pushed towards the wall at high speed and induce quenching and high wall heat fluxes while fresh gases are expelled from the wall region and form finger-like structures. Effects of the wall on flame surface density are investigated, and a simple model for flame-wall interaction is proposed; its predictions compare well with the DNS results.

Bruneaux, G.↗

Investigation of hypersonic rarefied flow on a spherical nose of the AOTV

The Navier-Stokes (NS) equations were integrated numerically for investigating the flow characteristics on the forepart of the spherical nose of a space vehicle such as the AOTV or AFE by a modified Accelerated Successive Replacement (ASR) scheme under hypersonic rarefied conditions. Technical feasibility of the mathematical approach was demonstrated by computing the flowfield on a spherical nose under conditions that the AFE encounters at times t = 15 and 20 seconds after its reentry into the atmosphere. Local similar solutions for the merged layer flow along the stagnation line of the sphere were developed. These are correct to the same degree of accuracy as the NS equations. These solutions provided stagnation line boundary conditions for the domain of integration on the spherical noise. Also, a parametric study of the stagnation line solution was made with a view to understand the flow characteristics in tunnels with different ambient fluids. Analytical expressions for surface slip temperature, jump conditions, and concentration level in the presence of the real gas effects at the top of the Knudsen layer were derived and used to calculate the stagnation line flowfield with nonequilibrium dissociation and ionization. A number of graphics were drawn to illustrate the basic physics of the flowfields. The present analysis can be extended to include real gas effects and to bodies of arbitrary shapes. It can further provide boundary conditions for integrating the NS equations in the near wake region.

Jain, Amolak C.↗

Using a Genetic Algorithm to Model Broadband Regional Waveforms for Crustal Structure in the Western United States

In this study, we analyze regional seismograms to obtain the crustal structure in the eastern Great Basin and western Colorado plateau. Adopting a for- ward-modeling approach, we develop a genetic algorithm (GA) based parameter search technique to constrain the one-dimensional crustal structure in these regions. The data are broadband three-component seismograms recorded at the 1994-95 IRIS PASSCAL Colorado Plateau to Great Basin experiment (CPGB) stations and supplemented by data from U.S. National Seismic Network (USNSN) stations in Utah and Nevada. We use the southwestern Wyoming mine collapse event (M(sub b) = 5.2) that occurred on 3 February 1995 as the seismic source. We model the regional seismograms using a four-layer crustal model with constant layer parameters. Timing of teleseismic receiver functions at CPGB stations are added as an additional constraint in the modeling. GA allows us to efficiently search the model space. A carefully chosen fitness function and a windowing scheme are added to the algorithm to prevent search stagnation. The technique is tested with synthetic data, both with and without random Gaussian noise added to it. Several separate model searches are carried out to estimate the variability of the model parameters. The average Colorado plateau crustal structure is characterized by a 40-km-thick crust with velocity increases at depths of about 10 and 25 km and a fast lower crust while the Great Basin has approximately 35- km-thick crust and a 2.9-km-thick sedimentary layer.

Bhattacharyya, Joydeep↗