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At least 505 records · Page 28

A model for the origin of solar wind stream interfaces

The basic variations in solar wind properties that have been observed at 'stream interfaces' near 1 AU are explained by a gas dynamic model in which a radially propagating stream, produced by a temperature variation in the solar envelope, steepens nonlinearly while moving through interplanetary space. The region thus identified with the stream interface separates the ambient solar wind from the fresh hot material originally in the stream. However, the interface regions given by the present model are thicker than most stream interfaces observed in the solar wind, a fact suggesting that some additional physical process may be important in determining that thickness. Variations in the density, speed, or Alfven pressure alone appear not to produce streams with such an interface.

Hundhausen, A. J.↗

Experimental pitch-, yaw-, and roll-damping characteristics of a shuttle orbiter at Mach number 8

Wind tunnel tests were conducted to measure the pitch-, yaw-, and roll-damping characteristics of a modified 089B shuttle orbiter. These tests were conducted for NASA-Langley at the von Karman Gas Dynamics Facility of the Arnold Engineering Development Center. Data were obtained utilizing the small amplitude forced-oscillation technique at angles of attack of -4.9 to 26.5 deg at Reynolds numbers, based on model length, of 1,180,000 to 4,820,000. The orbiter was dynamically stable in pitch, yaw, and roll, and the pitch derivatives were dependent on Reynolds number, while the roll derivatives were independent of Reynolds number.

Uselton, B. L.↗

Analysis of nitrogen condensation in an expanding nozzle flow

Condensation of nitrogen flow in an expanding nozzle flow is analyzed using one-dimensional gas dynamic equations and the equations for nucleation and droplet growth. Effects of variations in the Tolman constant and the mass accommodation factor are discussed as well as the effect of foreign nuclei. Comparisons are made with experimental data obtained from a small, contoured nozzle.

Wang, F. C.↗

On ionospheric aerodynamics

This paper presents theoretical methods to determine the gas dynamic and the electrostatic effects due to the interaction caused by a rapidly moving body in the ionosphere. The principles of the methods are derived from the kinetic theory of collision-free plasma. It is shown that the collective behavior of the collision-free plasma makes it possible to use the fluid approach to treat the problems of ionospheric aerodynamics. Various solutions to the system of fluid and field equations that have direct bearing on the ionospheric aerodynamics are presented and discussed. Physical significances of the mathematical results are stressed. Some outstanding unsolved problems in ionospheric aerodynamics are elaborated and discussed.

Liu, V. C.↗

A systematic method for computer design of supercritical airfoils in cascade

A computer code has been developed for the direct calculation of shockless transonic airfoils whose pressure distributions can be assigned within reasonable limits. The partial differential equations of two-dimensional inviscid gas dynamics are solved by analytic continuation into the domain of two independent complex characteristic coordinates. The domain of integration is mapped conformally onto the unit circle in the hodograph plane of one of these coordinates. It is possible to formulate a boundary value problem on this circle for the stream function that is well posed in the case of transonic flow. This enables the formulation of a procedure for the calculation of an airfoil on which the speed is prescribed as a function of the arc length

Garabedian, P.↗

Atmospheric interaction plume

Computer program can be used to predict gas dynamic and chemical properties of underexpanded rocket plumes from sea level to altitude above which viscous continuum-flow assumption with distinct shocks is no longer valid.

Kelly, J. T.↗

Velocity and temperature distributions of coal-slag layers on magnetohydrodynamic generators walls

Approximate analytical expressions are derived for the velocity and temperature distributions in steady state coal slag deposits flowing over MHD generator walls. Effects of slag condensation and Joule heating are included in the analysis. The transport conditions and the slag temperature at the slag-gas interface are taken to be known parameters in the formulation. They are assumed to have been predetermined either experimentally or from the slag properties and the gas dynamic calculations of the free stream flow. The analysis assumes a power law velocity profile for the slag and accounts for the coupling between the energy and momentum conservation equations. Comparisons are made with the more exact numerical solutions to verify the accuracy of the results.

Pian, C. C. P.↗

Chemical depletion of the ionosphere

A theoretical study of the chemical and gas dynamical processes resulting from the release of reactive gases into the daytime ionosphere is discussed. Only point releases, such as from an explosion or a pulsed jet, are considered. Some scientific uses of the artificial reduction of the ionospheric plasma are considered.

Bernhardt, P. A.↗

Vibration testing of the JE-M-604-4-IUE rocket motor (Thiokol P/N E 28639-03)

The NASA International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) rocket motor (TE-M-604-4), a solid fuel, spherical rocket motor, was vibration tested in the Impact, Vibration, and Acceleration (IVA) Test Unit of the von Karman Gas Dynamics Facility (VKF). The objective of the test program was to subject the motor to qualification levels of sinusoidal and random vibration prior to the altitude firing of the motor in the Propulsion Development Test Cell (T-3), Engine Test Facility (ETF), AEDC. The vibration testing consisted of a low level sine survey from 5 to 2,000 Hz, followed by a qualification level sine sweep and qualification level random vibration. A second low level sine survey followed the qualification level testing. This sequence of testing was accomplished in each of three orthogonal axes. No motor problems were observed due to the imposition of these dynamic environments.

Alt, R. E.↗

Computational techniques for solar wind flows past terrestrial planets: Theory and computer programs

The interaction of the solar wind with terrestrial planets can be predicted using a computer program based on a single fluid, steady, dissipationless, magnetohydrodynamic model to calculate the axisymmetric, supersonic, super-Alfvenic solar wind flow past both magnetic and nonmagnetic planets. The actual calculations are implemented by an assemblage of computer codes organized into one program. These include finite difference codes which determine the gas-dynamic solution, together with a variety of special purpose output codes for determining and automatically plotting both flow field and magnetic field results. Comparisons are made with previous results, and results are presented for a number of solar wind flows. The computational programs developed are documented and are presented in a general user's manual which is included.

Stahara, S. S.↗

Lagrangian computation of inviscid compressible flows

A Lagrangian method is developed to solve the Euler equations of gas dynamics. The solution of the equations is obtained by a numerical computation with the well-known Flux-Corrected-Transport (FCT) numerical method. This procedure is modified so that the boundary treatment is accurate and relatively simple. Shock waves and other flow discontinuities are captured monotonically without any type of fitting procedures. The Lagrangian method is employed so that the problem of mesh generation is completely avoided. The method is applicable to all Mach numbers except the low subsonic range where compressibility effects are small. The method is applied to a one-dimensional Riemann problem (shock tube) and to a two-dimensional supersonic channel flow with reflecting shock waves.

Klopfer, G. H.↗

Accretion flows in binary X-ray systems

Recent developments in the study of accretion flows in binary X-ray systems are reviewed, concentrating on issues concerning the gas flows rather than the radiation mechanisms. A model for Her X-1 is presented which illustrates the main structures expected to exist in the case where mass transfer is by Roche-lobe overflow and the X-ray source is a rotating magnetized neutron star. A model for Cyg X-1 is given which shows the accretion-flow structures to be expected if the compact object is a black hole, including an accretion wake and a very small accretion disk around the black hole. Physical parameters of the accretion flows in these two instances are examined along with some scale lengths that may be derived from these parameters by dimensional analysis. Detailed attention is given to neutron-star magnetospheres (for slow, intermediate, and fast rotators), accretion-disk structure, accretion from stellar winds, and the relationship between X-rays and the gas dynamics of accretion flows. It is suggested that accretion flows in binary X-ray systems be observed directly by means of high-resolution UV and X-ray spectroscopy.

Mccray, R.↗

Rocket exhaust plume impingement on the Voyager spacecraft

In connection with the conduction of the long-duration Voyager missions to the outer planets and the sophisticated propulsion systems required, it was necessary to carry out an investigation to avoid exhaust plume impingement problems. The rarefied gas dynamics literature indicates that, for most engineering surfaces, the assumption of diffuse reemission and complete thermal accommodation is warranted in the free molecular flow regime. This assumption was applied to an analysis of a spacecraft plume impingement problem in the near-free molecular flow regime and yielded results to within a few percent of flight data. The importance of a correct treatment of the surface temperature was also demonstrated. Specular reflection, on the other hand, was shown to yield results which may be unconservative by a factor of 2 or 3. It is pointed out that one of the most difficult portions of an exhaust plume impingement analysis is the simulation of the impinged hardware. The geometry involved must be described as accurately and completely as possible.

Baerwald, R. K.↗

Supersonic unstalled flutter

Flutter analyses were developed to predict the onset of supersonic unstalled flutter of a cascade of two-dimensional airfoils. The first of these analyzes the onset of supersonic flutter at low levels of aerodynamic loading (i.e., backpressure), while the second examines the occurrence of supersonic flutter at moderate levels of aerodynamic loading. Both of these analyses are based on the linearized unsteady inviscid equations of gas dynamics to model the flow field surrounding the cascade. These analyses are utilized in a parametric study to show the effects of cascade geometry, inlet Mach number, and backpressure on the onset of single and multi degree of freedom unstalled supersonic flutter. Several of the results are correlated against experimental qualitative observation to validate the models.

Adamczyk, J. J.↗

Numerical method for solution of systems of non-stationary spatially one-dimensional nonlinear differential equations

A computational scheme and a standard program is proposed for solving systems of nonstationary spatially one-dimensional nonlinear differential equations using Newton's method. The proposed scheme is universal in its applicability and its reduces to a minimum the work of programming. The program is written in the FORTRAN language and can be used without change on electronic computers of type YeS and BESM-6. The standard program described permits the identification of nonstationary (or stationary) solutions to systems of spatially one-dimensional nonlinear (or linear) partial differential equations. The proposed method may be used to solve a series of geophysical problems which take chemical reactions, diffusion, and heat conductivity into account, to evaluate nonstationary thermal fields in two-dimensional structures when in one of the geometrical directions it can take a small number of discrete levels, and to solve problems in nonstationary gas dynamics.

Morozov, S. K.↗

Supersonic unstalled flutter

Recently two flutter analyses have been developed at NASA Lewis Research Center to predict the onset of supersonic unstalled flutter of a cascade of two-dimensional airfoils. The first of these analyzes the onset of supersonic flutter at low levels of aerodynamic loading (i.e., backpressure), while the second examines the occurrence of supersonic flutter at moderate levels of aerodynamic loading. Both of these analyses are based on the linearized unsteady inviscid equations of gas dynamics to model the flow field surrounding the cascade. The details of the development of the solution to each of these models have been published. The objective of the present paper is to utilize these analyses in a parametric study to show the effects of cascade geometry, inlet Mach number, and backpressure on the onset of single and multi degree of freedom unstalled supersonic flutter. Several of the results from this study are correlated against experimental qualitative observation to validate the models.

Adamczyk, J. J.↗

Simulation of liquid propellant rocket engine combustion instabilities

A simulation technique for studying the high frequency combustion instabilities of liquid propellant rocket engines has been developed and used to investigate various aspects of instability phenomena. Of importance was investigation of the significance of the method of coupling the combustion and the gas dynamics of the system. Two coupling processes were studied: linear response of the combustion process to pressure fluctuations, and the nature of the resulting instabilities; and nonlinear response of the combustion process to velocity fluctuations, and the nature of the resulting instabilities. For the combustion model studied, nonlinear (velocity) coupling was found to more closely characterize liquid propellant instabilities.

Ventrice, M. B.↗

The lambda-scheme

A method for integrating the Euler equations of gas dynamics for compressible flows in any hyperbolic case is presented. This method is applied to the Mach number distribution over a stretch of an infinite duct having a variable cross section, and to the distribution in a channel opening into a vacuum with the Mach number equalling 1.04. An example of the ability of this method to handle two-dimensional unsteady flows is shown using the steady shock-and-isobars pattern reached asymptotically about an ablated blunt body with a free stream Mach number equalling 12. A final example is presented where the technique is applied to a three-dimensional steady supersonic flow, with a Mach number of 2 and an angle of attack of 5 deg.

Moretti, G.↗