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At least 73 records · Page 4

Modelling of Laser-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition

Research is directed at development of a detailed model of mass and heat transfer and chemical reaction in the pyrolysis of silane for the growth of thin amorphous silicon substrates incorporating laser heating of the gas phase above the film. The model will be the basis for evaluation of the relative importances of the decomposition of SiH4 in the vapor phase, mass transfer of the intermediate species, e.g., SiH2, and the evolution of hydrogen gas. Plans are also underway for developing a model for homogeneous nucleation of Si in the vapor phase to model the rate limitations observed at high gas-phase temperatures and high partial pressures of silane. Work was concentrated on an almost one-dimensional model for the coupling of the CO2 laser beam for heat transfer of the vapor phase with simple kinetic models for SiH4 decomposition and subsequent absorption of Si vapor on the substrate. Mass transfer in the vapor phase is assumed to be solely by diffusion. The role of convection in the vapor phase caused by the large changes in density in and around the center of the laser beam will be analyzed to evaluate the potential of microgravity experiments for increasing the uniformity of the film and the deposition rate.

Brown, R. A.↗

Magma zonation - Effects of chemical buoyancy and diffusion

Numerical simulations and scale analysis are used to assess the viability of the marginal box-filling mechanism for producing compositional zonation in magma bodies. Scale analysis and two-dimensional numerical experiments both show that box-filling occurs provided a critical ratio of compositional-to-thermal buoyancy is exceeded. This critical ratio depends on the ratio of thermal-to-chemical diffusivity; application of this result to magma bodies suggests that box-filling may occur for components with relatively high-chemical diffusivities such as water. However, box-filling will not produce significant zonation for components with small chemical diffusivities, such as silica, unless diffusive coupling increases silica diffusivity.

Spera, Frank J.↗

Low Stretch Solid-Fuel Flame Transient Response to a Step Change in Gravity

The effect of a step change in gravity level on the stability of low stretch diffusion flames over a solid fuel is studied both numerically and experimentally. Drop tower experiments have been conducted in NASA Glenn Research Center's 5.2 Zero Gravity Facility. In the experiments burning PMMA cylinders, a dynamic transition is observed when the steadily burning 1g flame is dropped and becomes a 0g flame. To understand the physics behind this dynamic transition, a transient stagnation point model has been developed which includes gas-phase radiation and solid phase coupling to describe this dynamic process. In this paper, the experimental results are compared with the model predictions. Both model and experiment show that the interior of the solid phase does not have time to change significantly in the few seconds of drop time, so the experimental results are pseudo-steady in the gas-phase, but the solid is inherently unsteady over long time scales. The model is also used to examine the importance of fractional heat losses on extinction, which clearly demonstrates that as the feedback from the flame decreases, the importance of the ongoing heat losses becomes greater, and extinction is observed when these losses represent 80% or more of the flame feedback.

Armstrong, J. B.↗

Dissolution kinetics of a lunar glass simulant at 25 degrees C: the effect of pH and organic acids

The dissolution kinetics of a simulated lunar glass were examined at pH 3, 5, and 7. Additionally, the pH 7 experiments were conducted in the presence of citric and oxalic acid at concentrations of 2 and 20 mM. The organic acids were buffered at pH 7 to examine the effect of each molecule in their dissociated form. At pH 3, 5, and 7, the dissolution of the synthetic lunar glass was observed to proceed via a two-stage process. The first stage involved the parabolic release of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe, and the linear release of Si. Dissolution was incongruent, creating a leached layer rich in Si and Ti which was verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). During the second stage the release of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe was linear. A coupled diffusion/surface dissolution model was proposed for dissolution of the simulated lunar glass at pH 3, 5, and 7. During the first stage the initial release of mobile cations (i.e., Ca, Mg, Al, Fe) was limited by diffusion through the surface leached layer of the glass (parabolic release), while Si release was controlled by the hydrolysis of the Si-O-Al bonds at the glass surface (linear release). As dissolution continued, the mobile cations diffused from greater depths within the glass surface. A steady-state was then reached where the diffusion rate across the increased path lengths equalled the Si release rate from the surface. In the presence of the organic acids, the dissolution of the synthetic lunar glass proceeded by a one stage process. The release of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe followed a parabolic relationship, while the release of Si was linear. The relative reactivity of the organic acids used in the experiments was citrate > oxalate. A thinner leached layer rich in Si/Ti, as compared to the pH experiments, was observed using TEM. Rate data suggest that the chemisorption of the organic anion to the surface silanol groups was responsible for enhanced dissolution in the presence of the organic acids. It is proposed that the increased rate of Si release is responsible for the one stage parabolic release of mobile cations and the relatively thin leached layer compared to experiments at pH 3 and 5.

NASA Discipline Life Support Systems↗

Effect of Rain-Adjusted Satellite Sea Surface Salinity on ENSO Predictions from the GMAO S2S Forecast System

ENSO has a significant impact on climate variability throughout the world and so has been the key focus for improving coupled ocean-atmosphere forecasts. Assimilation of altimetry and in situ data lead to improved short-term forecasts of the coupled system. However, few studies have focused on improving the near-surface density/mixing through assimilation of satellite sea surface salinity (SSS). For expediency, most projects that do assimilate SSS do so as if these data were observed at the top model layer instead of at the surface. In rainy regions where buoyant water sits as a fresh lens at the surface, this assumption is likely invalid. Therefore, we adjust SSS so that it more accurately represents the salinity at the first model layer. The Rain Impact Model (RIM) uses a simple diffusion model to determine the near surface salinity gradient (i.e., 1 cm to 5 m). Satellite SSS data are modified using this near-surface salinity gradient, so the salinity values are now valid at the first model layer (we call this SSS@5m). We assess the impact of satellite SSS observations for near-surface dynamics within ocean reanalyses and how these impact dynamical ENSO forecasts using the NASA GMAO S2S coupled system. For all reanalysis experiments, all available along-track sea level and in situ observations are assimilated for 2011 to 2020 using the LETKF scheme (Penny et al., 2013). One reanalysis assimilates Aquarius /SMAP SSS as before. An additional reanalysis is performed assimilating the SSS@5m data. Validation statistics are compared for experiments that assimilate SSS (sub-optimally as before) versus the SSS@5m. We also compare results of coupled forecasts that are initialized from these reanalyses in spring. For all but the big La Niña in 2017, all NINO3.4 forecasts were improved by using the RIM. We will show that improved SSS estimates upgrades density and near-surface mixing leading to more accurate coupled air/sea interaction and better forecasts.

ENSO↗

Fifteen Years of Laboratory Astrophysics at Ames

Tremendous strides have been made in our understanding of interstellar material over the past fifteen years thanks to significant, parallel developments in two closely related areas: observational astronomy and laboratory astrophysics. Fifteen years ago the composition of interstellar dust was largely guessed at, the concept of ices in dense molecular clouds ignored, and the notion of large, abundant, gas phase, carbon-rich molecules widespread throughout the interstellar medium (ISM) considered impossible. Today the composition of dust in the diffuse ISM is reasonably well constrained to cold refractory materials comprised of amorphous and crystalline silicates mixed with an amorphous carbonaceous material containing aromatic structural units and short, branched aliphatic chains. In the dense ISM, these cold dust particles are coated with mixed-molecular ices whose compositions are very well known. Lastly, the signature of carbon-rich polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), shockingly large molecules by early interstellar chemistry standards, is widespread throughout the ISM. This great progress has only been made possible by the close collaboration of laboratory experimentalists with observers and theoreticians, all with the goal of applying their skills to astrophysical problems of direct interest to NASA programs. Such highly interdisciplinary collaborations ensure fundamental, in depth coverage of the wide-ranging challenges posed by astrophysics. These challenges include designing astrophysically focused experiments and data analysis, tightly coupled with astrophysical searches spanning 2 orders of magnitude in wavelength, and detailed theoretical modeling. The impact of our laboratory has been particularly effective as there is constant cross-talk and feedback between quantum theorists; theoretical astrophysicists and chemists; experimental physicists; organic, physical and petroleum chemists; and infrared and UV/Vis astronomers. In this paper, two examples of the Ames Program will be given. We have been involved in identifying 9 out of the 14 interstellar pre-cometary ice species known, determined their abundances and the physical nature of the ice structure. Details on our ice work are given in the paper by Sandford et al. Our group is among the pioneers of the PAH model. We built the theoretical framework, participated in the observations and developed the experimental techniques needed to test the model. We demonstrated that the ubiquitous infrared emission spectrum associated with many interstellar objects can be matched by laboratory spectra of neutral and positively charged PAHs and that PAHs were excellent candidates for the diffuse interstellar band (DIB) carriers. See Salama et al. and Hudgins et al.

Allamandola, L. J.↗

Postseismic deformation and stress diffusion due to viscoelasticity and comments on the modified Elsasser model

Finite element techniques have been used to investigate the far-field deformation and stress changes due to asthenospheric viscoelastic relaxation following a dip-slip earthquake. The diffusion of extensional stress toward the subduction zone following a thrust earthquake on land is qualitatively consistent with the modified Elsasser model as proposed by Rydelek and Sacks (1988, 1990) to explain the coupled occurrence of land and sea earthquakes near Japan. However, the magnitude of the diffusing tensional signal is significantly smaller. The nominal model consists of a partially faulted elastic lithosphere overlying a viscoelastic substrate. Other models consider thin channel flow, rupturing of the entire elastic lithosphere, and changes in the depth of faulting. While some of these changes have significant impact on the magnitude and spatial features of the stress and deformation field, the far-field stress remains small. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the assumptions of the modified Elsasser model accentuate uniaxial deformation. When these assumptions are replicated in the finite element calculations, reasonable agreement between the models is achieved.

Cohen, Steven C.↗

Unified Material-Environment Interaction Model for Binary UHTC Composites

A new model for the surface chemistry of zirconium and hafnium diborides containing silicon-carbide when exposed to high temperature conditions in air is formulated. Oxidation dynamics are simplified by considering the diffusion-limited equilibrium regime within the material at elevated temperatures. This model is first assessed against experimental mass-gain data taken from UHTC samples heated to high temperature in an oxygen environment. Then, further evaluations of the new model are conducted using hypersonic CFD simulations to analyze conditions experienced by HfB2-SiC in arc jet experiments conducted at NASA Ames Research Center. Measurements of stagnation point heat transfer and pressure are then used to calibrate the simulations. Results of coupled CFD-material response simulations are then compared to the surface temperatures measured during the Ames arc jet test. Results support the use of the proposed model while highlighting the need for improved gas-phase data on the additional constituents considered.

ultra high temperature ceramic↗

A computational study of the flowfield surrounding the Aeroassist Flight Experiment vehicle

A symmetric total variation diminishing (STVD) algorithm has been applied to the solution of the three-dimensional hypersonic flowfield surrounding the Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE) vehicle. Both perfect-gas and chemical nonequilibrium models have been used. The perfect-gas flows were computed at two different Reynolds numbers, including a flight trajectory point at maximum dynamic pressure, and on two different grids. Procedures for coupling the solution of the species continuity equations with the Navier-Stokes equations in the presence of chemical nonequilibrium are reviewed and tested on the forebody of the AFE and on the complete flowfield assuming noncatalytic wall and no species diffusion. Problems with the STVD algorithm unique to flows with variable thermodynamic properties (real gas) are identified and algorithm modifications are suggested. A potential heating problem caused by strong flow impingement on the nozzle lip in the near wake at 0-deg angle of attack has been identified.

Gnoffo, Peter A.↗

Euler equation computations for the flow over a hovering helicopter rotor

A numerical solution technique is developed for computing the flow field around an isolated helicopter rotor in hover. The flow is governed by the compressible Euler equations which are integrated using a finite volume approach. The Euler equations are coupled to a free wake model of the rotary wing vortical wake. This wake model is incorporated into the finite volume solver using a prescribed flow, or perturbation, technique which eliminates the numerical diffusion of vorticity due to the artificial viscosity of the scheme. The work is divided into three major parts: (1) comparisons of Euler solutions to experimental data for the flow around isolated wings show good agreement with the surface pressures, but poor agreement with the vortical wake structure; (2) the perturbation method is developed and used to compute the interaction of a streamwise vortex with a semispan wing. The rapid diffusion of the vortex when only the basic Euler solver is used is illustrated, and excellent agreement with experimental section lift coefficients is demonstrated when using the perturbation approach; and (3) the free wake solution technique is described and the coupling of the wake to the Euler solver for an isolated rotor is presented. Comparisons with experimental blade load data for several cases show good agreement, with discrepancies largely attributable to the neglect of viscous effects. The computed wake geometries agree less well with experiment, the primary difference being that too rapid a wake contraction is predicted for all the cases.

Roberts, Thomas Wesley↗

Absorption and Emission of EUV Radiation by the Local ISM

The Berkeley extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) telescope flown on the Apollo Soyuz mission in July, 1975 established the existence of a measurable flux of EUV (100 lambda or = or = 1000 A) originating from sources outside the solar system. White dwarfs, flare stars and cataclysmic variables were dicovered to be relatively intense compact sources of EUV photons. Moreover, this and other subsequent experiments have strongly suggested the presence of a truly diffuse component of the FUV radiation field possibly due to thermal emission from hot interstellar gas located in the general vicinity of the Sun. Closer to the H1, 912 A edge, the effect of a few hot O and B stars has been shown to be very important in establishing the interstellar flux density. All these results imply that the local interstellar medium (ISM) is immersed in a non-negligible EUV radiation field which, because of the strong coupling between EUV photons and matter, will play a crucial role in determining its physical structure. The available information on the local ISM derived from the limited EUV observations carried out so far is assembled and analyzed. These include measurements of the spectra of bright EUV sources that reveal clear evidence of H photo absorption at lambda 400 A and of the He ionization edge at 228 A.

Paresce, F.↗

Biospheric effects of a large extraterrestrial impact: Case study of the cretaceous/tertiary boundary crater

The Chicxulub impact crater, buried in the Yucatan carbonate platform in Mexico, is the site of the impact purported to have caused mass extinctions at the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary. A recently discovered Chicxulub ejecta deposit in Belize contains evidence of carbonate vaporization and precipitation from the vapor plume. Sulfate clasts are almost absent in the Belize ejecta, but are abundant in the coarse ejecta near the crater rim, hwich may reflect the greater abundance of sulfates deep in the target section. The absence of sulfate precipitates in Belize may indicate that most of the vaporized sulfur was deposited in the upper atmosphere. Hydrocode modeling of the impact indicates that between 0.4 to 7.0 x 10(exp 17) g of sulfur were vaporized by the impact in sulfates. Laser experiments indicate that SO2, SO3, and SO4 are produced, and that complex chemical reactions between plume constituents occur during condensation. The sulfur released as SO3 or SO4 converted rapidly into H2HO4 aerosol. A radiative transfer model coupled with a model of coagulation predicts that the aerosol prolonged the initial blackout period caused by impact dust only if it contained impurities. The sulfur released as SO2 converted to aerosol slowly due to the rate limiting oxidation of SO2. Radiative transfer calculations combined with rates of acid production, coagulation, and diffusion indicate that solar transmission was reduced to 10-20 percent of normal for a period of 8-13 years. This reduction produced a climate forcing (cooling) of -300 Wm(exp -2), which far exceeded the +8 Wm(exp -2) greenhouse warming caused by the CO2 released through the vaporization of carbonates, and therefore produced a decade of freezing and near-freezing temperatures. Several decades of moderate warming followed the decade of severe cooling due to the long residence time of CO2. The prolonged impact winter may have been a major cause of the K/T extinctions.

Pope, Kevin O.↗

Carbide coated fibers in graphite-aluminum composites

The study of protective-coupling layers of refractory metal carbides on the graphite fibers prior to their incorporation into composites is presented. Such layers should be directly wettable by liquid aluminum and should act as diffusion barriers to prevent the formation of aluminum carbide. Chemical vapor deposition was used to uniformly deposit thin, smooth, continuous coats of ZrC on the carbon fibers of tows derived from both rayon and polyacrylonitrile. A wet chemical coating of the fibers, followed by high-temperature treatment, was used, and showed promise as an alternative coating method. Experiments were performed to demonstrate the ability of aluminum alloys to wet carbide surfaces. Titanium carbide, zirconium carbide and carbide-coated graphite surfaces were successfully wetted. Results indicate that initial attempts to wet surfaces of ZrC-coated carbon fibers appear successful.

Imprescia, R. J.↗

Functional and anatomical characteristics of the nerve-brown adipose interaction in the rat

Experiments were conducted on 12 male rats to study the coupling of signals from the sympathetic nervous system to the brown adipose tissue. Analysis of electron photomicrographs revealed considerable morphological heterogeneity among the nerves entering and leaving the interscapular fat pad. In response to electrical simulation of the nerves, the temperature of the brown fat increased following a rapid but transient temperature drop. Such changes were observed only on the ipsilateral side, indicating that the innervation to the interscapular brown fat of the rat is functionally bilateral rather than diffuse. The finding that brown fat is capable of responding in a graded fashion correlates well with observations suggesting that clusters of brown adipocytes may be electrically coupled.

Flaim, K. E.↗

Recent Progress in Laboratory Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Achieved with the COSmIC Facility

We describe the characteristics and the capabilities of the laboratory facility, COSmIC, that was developed at NASA Ames to generate, process and analyze interstellar, circumstellar and planetary analogs in the laboratory. COSmIC stands for "Cosmic Simulation Chamber" and is dedicated to the study of neutral and ionized molecules and nanoparticles under the low temperature and high vacuum conditions that are required to simulate various space environments such as diffuse interstellar clouds, circumstellar outflows and planetary atmospheres. COSmIC integrates a variety of state-of-the-art instruments that allow recreating simulated space conditions to generate, process and monitor cosmic analogs in the laboratory. The COSmIC experimental setup is composed of a Pulsed Discharge Nozzle (PDN) expansion, that generates a plasma in the stream of a free supersonic jet expansion, coupled to high-sensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostics: cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) systems for photonic detection, and Reflectron Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ReTOF-MS) for mass detection. Recent results obtained using COSmIC will be highlighted. In particular, the progress that has been achieved in the domain of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) and in monitoring, in the laboratory, the formation of circumstellar dust grains and planetary atmosphere aerosols from their gas-phase molecular precursors. Plans for future laboratory experiments on interstellar and planetary molecules and grains will also be addressed, as well as the implications of the studies underway for astronomical observations and past and future space mission data analysis.

Salama, Farid↗

Particle-Gas Dynamics in the Midplane of a Protoplanetary Nebula

In this paper, we study the stage of planetary formation during which the particulate material is still dispersed as centimeter-to-meter sized primordial aggregates. During this stage, particles are able to settle toward the midplane into a layer of mass density comparable to or much greater than that of the gas. Nonlinear, coupled interactions between the particles and the nebula gas become significant and ultimately determine the vertical profiles of the particle density and the mean velocities of the particles and the nearby gas. This is the environment in which the earliest planetesimals probably form. Our numerical models rely on the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations for the gas and particles and are fully viscous and turbulent (and, for the particles. compressible). Our turbulence modeling uses a Prandtl local shear parametrization, validated by laboratory experiments. We have developed a new model for particle diffusion involving the profile of the nebula gas turbulence and the particle Schmidt number, which is a function of particle size and density. We model a cool, quiescent nebula at 1 AU (280 K) and 10 AU (90 K) and a higher temperature stage (1000 K) at 1 AU. Our main results include: (a) rapid accretion of planetesimals by gravitationally unstable fragmentation on an orbital time scale (the 'Goldreich-Ward instability') is unlikely to occur until objects have already accreted by some other process to the mass of the largest known meteorite samples, if at all; (b) from 'seeds' as small as 10 m, growth of 10- to 100-km planetesimals can proceed rapidly by drift-augmented accretion in the particle-rich midplane with orbital decay of about 1% for the growing planetesimals; (c) outward transport of vapor and small entrained chips can account for significant radial compositional and mineralogical mixing in primitive meteorite parent bodies. Other implications may be drawn concerning particle random collisional velocities and the time scales of midplane turbulence.

Cuzzi, Jeffrey N.↗

Detailed Studies on the Structure and Dynamics of Reacting Dusty Flows at Normal and Microgravity

Dusty reacting flows are of particular interest for a wide range of applications. Inert particles can alter the flammability and extinction limits of a combustible mixture. Reacting particles can release substantial amount of heat and can be used either for power generation or propulsion. Accumulation of combustible particles in air can result in explosions which, for example, can occur in grain elevators, during lumber milling and in mine galleries. Furthermore, inert particles are used as flow velocity markers in reacting flows, and their velocity is measured by non-intrusive laser diagnostic techniques. Despite their importance, dusty reacting flows have been less studied and understood compared to gas phase as well as sprays. The addition of solid particles in a flowing gas stream can lead to strong couplings between the two phases, which can be of dynamic, thermal, and chemical nature. The dynamic coupling between the two phases is caused by the inertia that causes the phases to move with different velocities. Furthermore, gravitational, thermophoretic, photophoretic, electrophoretic, diffusiophoretic, centrifugal, and magnetic forces can be exerted on the particles. In general, magnetic, electrophoretic, centrifugal, photophoretic, and diffusiophoretic can be neglected. On the other hand, thermophoretic forces, caused by steep temperature gradients, can be important. The gravitational forces are almost always present and can affect the dynamic response of large particles. Understanding and quantifying the chemical coupling between two phases is a challenging task. However, all reacting particles begin this process as inert particles, and they must be heated before they participate in the combustion process. Thus, one must first understand the interactions of inert particles in a combustion environment. The in-detail understanding of the dynamics and structure of dusty flows can be only advanced by considering simple flow geometries such as the opposed-jet, stagnation-type. In such configurations the imposed strain rate is well characterized, and the in-depth understanding of the details of the physico-chemical processes can be systematically obtained. A number of computational and experimental studies on spray and particle flows have been conducted in stagnation-type configurations. Numerically, the need for a hybrid Eulerian-Lagrangian approach has been identified by Continillo and Sirignano, and the use of such approach has allowed for the prediction of the phenomenon of droplet flow reversal. Gomez and Rosner have conducted a detailed study on the particle response in the opposed-jet configuration, and the particle thermophoretic diffusivities were determined experimentally. Sung, Law and co-workers have conducted numerical studies on the effect of strain rate and temperature gradients on the dynamics of inert particles, as a way of understanding potential errors in experimental LDV data that may arise from thermophoretic forces. This investigation is a combined experimental and numerical study on the details of reacting dusty flows. The specific tasks are: (1) Experimental determination of laminar flame speeds, and extinction strain rates of dusty flows at normal- and micro-gravity as functions of the particle type, particle initial diameter, particle initial number density, and gas phase chemical composition; (2) Detailed numerical simulation of the experiments. Results are compared with experiments and the adequacy of theoretical models is assessed; and (3) Provision of enhanced insight into the thermo-chemical coupling between the two phases.

Andac, M. Gurhan↗

Slewing and vibration control of the SCOLE

A discussion of Slewing and Vibration Control makes the following conclusions: (1) A 2-stage approach is feasible and promising for rapid slewing and precision pointing of SCOLE; (2) Not all bang-bang type of time-minimized slew maneuvers will excite large structural vibrations in SCOLE; and (3) Modal dashpots can be a concentrated high-power vibration control, as well as the usual diffuse (broadband, low-power (low-authority) control. The following recommendations are made: (1) Limit the magnitude of applied forces on reflector to either the 25-lb limit of vernier thrusters on the real Space Shuttle or the 150-lb level equivalent to the cold-gas jets of laboratory SCOLE; (2) to complete stage 2, add an integrated design of LQF/LTR (Linear-Quadratic-Gaussian/Loop-Transfer Recovery) and Modal Dashpots; and, (3) Validate the 2-stage approach using the SCOLE laboratory facility with a comprehensive sequence of integrated designs and experiments coupling nonlinear rigid-body motions with flexible-body dynamics.

Lin, Jiguan Gene↗