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Results for “Hydrodynamic stability”

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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Applications of a Rayleigh-Taylor model to direct-drive laser fusion

Here, this paper presents a simple physics-based model for the interpretation of key metrics in laser direct drive. The only input parameters required are target scale, in-flight aspect ratio, and beam-to-target radius, and the importance of each has been quantified with a tailored set of cryogenic implosion experiments. These analyses lead to compact and accurate predictions of the fusion yield and areal density as a function of hydrodynamic stability, and suggest new ways to take advantage of direct drive. To provide examples, we will discuss how the inferred mix width behaves relative to theory, then show how it could be exploited to perform a direct drive implosion with a Lawson metric or Χ no α of 0.24 ± 0.02—using a novel parameter space at high velocities and beam radii on the OMEGA laser—that projects to ignition at a laser energy ≤2.0 MJ.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Experimentally Inferred Fusion Yield Dependencies of OMEGA Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions

Statistical modeling of experimental and simulation databases has enabled the development of an accurate predictive capability for deuterium-tritium layered cryogenic implosions at the OMEGA laser. Here, a physics-based statistical mapping framework is described and used to uncover the dependencies of the fusion yield. This model is used to identify and quantify the degradation mechanisms of the fusion yield in direct-drive implosions on OMEGA. The yield is found to be reduced by the ratio of laser beam to target radius, the asymmetry in inferred ion temperatures from the $l$ = 1 mode, the time span over which tritium fuel has decayed, and parameters related to the implosion hydrodynamic stability. When adjusted for tritium decay and $l$ = 1 mode, the highest yield in OMEGA cryogenic implosions is predicted to exceed 2 × 10 14 fusion reactions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effects of Laser Bandwidth in Direct-Drive High-Performance DT-Layered Implosions on the OMEGA Laser

In direct-drive inertial confinement fusion, the laser bandwidth reduces the laser imprinting seed of hydrodynamic instabilities. The impact of varying bandwidth on the performance of direct-drive DT-layered implosions was studied in targets with different hydrodynamic stability properties. The stability was controlled by changing the shell adiabat from (α F ≃ 5) (more stable) to (α F ≃ 3.5) (less stable). Herein these experiments show that the performance of lower adiabat implosions improves considerably as the bandwidth is raised indicating that further bandwidth increases, beyond the current capabilities of OMEGA, would be greatly beneficial. These results suggest that the future generation of ultra-broadband lasers could enable achieving high convergence and possibly high gains in direct drive ICF.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Performance enhancement of direct-drive shock-augmented ignition inertial fusion implosions through shock timing optimization

Shock-augmented ignition (SAI) [R. H. H. Scott et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 195001 (2022)] is an alternative inertial confinement fusion concept that is designed to achieve high energy gain by combining improved resilience to instabilities with enhanced fuel compression. In SAI, lower implosion velocities can improve hydrodynamic stability and limited laser intensities reduce the excitation of detrimental laser-plasma instabilities, enabling greater areal density accumulation. Here we report an experimental investigation of SAI using a series of warm D 2 implosions. By timing the augmenting shock to arrive at the implosion center immediately prior to peak compression, the areal density and hot-spot pressure increase by 50% and 112%, respectively, relative to unoptimized designs. Ignition-scale simulations reproduce the observed timing dependence and demonstrate the potential of SAI for inertial fusion energy.

Direct drive↗
NASA NTRS1972

Finite amplitude instability of second-order fluids in plane Poiseuille flow.

The hydrodynamic stability of plane Poiseuille flow of second-order fluids to finite amplitude disturbances is examined using the method of Stuart and Watson as extended by Reynolds and Potter. For slightly non-Newtonian fluids subcritical instabilities are predicted. No supercritical equilibrium states are expected if the entire spectrum of disturbance wavelengths is present. Possible implications with respect to the Toms phenomenon are discussed.

Mcintire, L. V.↗
NASA NTRS1972

On the initiation of melt fracture.

Discussion of a problem encountered in the processing of viscoelastic materials that is caused by the presence of a hydrodynamic instability in the extrusion of polymer melts. The importance of the so-called Weissenberg number in determining the onset of the melt fracture is examined using classical linearized hydrodynamic stability analysis. It is shown that the simple shearing flow of a viscoelastic fluid becomes unstable at a critical value of the Weissenberg number. Implications for the extrusion processing of polymers are reviewed.

Mcintire, L. V.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Effect of number of lobes and length-diameter ratio on stability of tilted-lobe hydrodynamic journal bearings at zero load

Hydrodynamic journal stability tests were conducted with tilted-lobe bearings. The bearings had three, five, and seven lobes and length to diameter (L/D) ratios from 0.2 to 1.0. They were tested in water and MIL-L-7808G oil at 294 K (70 F) at speeds to 5400 rpm with zero load. Stability was not appreciably affected by the number of lobes and decreased with a decrease in L/D ratio. However, a three-tilted-lobe bearing with an offset factor of 0.76 and an L/D of 0.5 was more stable than a three centrally lobed bearing with an offset factor of 0.50 and an L/D of 1.0.

Schuller, F. T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Interstellar bubbles. II - Structure and evolution

The detailed structure of the interaction of a strong stellar wind with the interstellar medium is presented. First, an adiabatic similarity solution is given which is applicable at early times. Second, a similarity solution is derived which includes the effects of thermal conduction between the hot (about 1 million K) interior and the cold shell of swept-up interstellar matter. This solution is then modified to include the effects of radiative energy losses. The evolution of an interstellar bubble is calculated, including the radiative losses. The quantitative results for the outer-shell radius and velocity and the column density of highly ionized species such as O VI are within a factor 2 of the approximate results of Castor, McCray, and Weaver (1975). The effect of stellar motion on the structure of a bubble, the hydrodynamic stability of the outer shell, and the observable properties of the hot region and the outer shell are discussed.

Weaver, R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The radiation of sound by the instability waves of a compressible plane turbulent shear layer

The problem of acoustic radiation generated by instability waves of a compressible plane turbulent shear layer is solved. The solution provided is valid up to the acoustic far-field region. It represents a significant improvement over the solution obtained by classical hydrodynamic-stability theory which is essentially a local solution with the acoustic radiation suppressed. The basic instability-wave solution which is valid in the shear layer and the near-field region is constructed in terms of an asymptotic expansion using the method of multiple scales. This solution accounts for the effects of the slightly divergent mean flow. It is shown that the multiple-scales asymptotic expansion is not uniformly valid far from the shear layer. Continuation of this solution into the entire upper half-plane is described. The extended solution enables the near- and far-field pressure fluctuations associated with the instability wave to be determined. Numerical results show that the directivity pattern of acoustic radiation into the stationary medium peaks at 20 degrees to the axis of the shear layer in the downstream direction for supersonic flows. This agrees qualitatively with the observed noise-directivity patterns of supersonic jets.

Tam, C. K. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The fluid mechanics of continuous flow electrophoresis in perspective

Buoyancy alters the flow in continuous flow electrophoresis chambers through the mechanism of hydrodynamic instability and, when the instability is supressed by careful cooling of the chamber boundaries, by restructuring the axial flow. The expanded roles of buoyancy follow upon adapting the size of the chamber and the electric field so as to fractionate certain sorts of cell populations. Scale-up problems, hydrodynamic stability and the altered flow fields are discussed to show how phenomena overlooked in the design and operations of narrow-gap devices take on an overwhelming importance in wide-gap chambers

Saville, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A note on the limits of Rossby wave amplitudes

Quasi-geostrophic dynamics, as usually formulated, centers on the conservation of pseudopotential vorticity (PV) on isobaric surfaces. The present study has the objective to investigate some simple constraints which conservation of PV imposes on internal Rossby waves. Attention is given to some of the limitations that conservation of potential vorticity imposes on the dynamics of the stratosphere. Another possible constraint imposed by hydrodynamic stability is also discussed. The quantitative limitations these constraints put on the amplitudes of internal Rossby waves are assessed and compared with observations of the lower stratosphere.

Lindzen, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Higher modes of the Orr-Sommerfeld problem for boundary layer flows

The discrete spectrum of the Orr-Sommerfeld problem of hydrodynamic stability for boundary layer flows in semi-infinite regions is examined. Related questions concerning the continuous spectrum are also addressed. Emphasis is placed on the stability problem for the Blasius boundary layer profile. A general theoretical result is given which proves that the discrete spectrum of the Orr-Sommerfeld problem for boundary layer profiles (U(y), 0,0) has only a finite number of discrete modes when U(y) has derivatives of all orders. Details are given of a highly accurate numerical technique based on collocation with splines for the calculation of stability characteristics. The technique includes replacement of 'outer' boundary conditions by asymptotic forms based on the proper large parameter in the stability problem. Implementation of the asymptotic boundary conditions is such that there is no need to make apriori distinctions between subcases of the discrete spectrum or between the discrete and continuous spectrums. Typical calculations for the usual Blasius problem are presented.

Lakin, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A spectral collocation method for the Navier-Stokes equations

A Fourier-Chebyshev spectral method for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations is described. It is applicable to a variety of problems including some with fluid properties which vary strongly both in the normal direction and in time. In this fully spectral algorithm, a preconditioned iterative technique is used for solving the implicit equations arising from semi-implicit treatment of pressure, mean advection and vertical diffusion terms. The algorithm is tested by applying it to hydrodynamic stability problems in channel flow and in external boundary layers with both constant and variable viscosity.

Malik, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Electrohydrodynamics and other hydrodynamic phenomena in continuous flow electrophoresis

The process known as continuous flow electrophoresis employs an electric field to separate the constituents of particulate samples suspended in a liquid. Complications arise because the electric field generates temperature gradients due to Joule heating and derives an electrohydrodynamic crossflow. Several aspects of the flow are discussed including entrance effects, hydrodynamic stability and a flow restructuring due to the combined effects of buoyancy and the crossflow.

Saville, D. A.↗
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.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1985

Mathematical Models of Continuous Flow Electrophoresis

Development of high resolution continuous flow electrophoresis devices ultimately requires comprehensive understanding of the ways various phenomena and processes facilitate or hinder separation. A comprehensive model of the actual three dimensional flow, temperature and electric fields was developed to provide guidance in the design of electrophoresis chambers for specific tasks and means of interpreting test data on a given chamber. Part of the process of model development includes experimental and theoretical studies of hydrodynamic stability. This is necessary to understand the origin of mixing flows observed with wide gap gravitational effects. To insure that the model accurately reflects the flow field and particle motion requires extensive experimental work. Another part of the investigation is concerned with the behavior of concentrated sample suspensions with regard to sample stream stability particle-particle interactions which might affect separation in an electric field, especially at high field strengths. Mathematical models will be developed and tested to establish the roles of the various interactions.

Saville, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Contributions to the understanding of large-scale coherent structures in developing free turbulent shear flows

Advances in the mechanics of boundary layer flow are reported. The physical problems of large scale coherent structures in real, developing free turbulent shear flows, from the nonlinear aspects of hydrodynamic stability are addressed. The presence of fine grained turbulence in the problem, and its absence, lacks a small parameter. The problem is presented on the basis of conservation principles, which are the dynamics of the problem directed towards extracting the most physical information, however, it is emphasized that it must also involve approximations.

Liu, J. T. C.↗