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At least 109 records · Page 6

Dislocation line tension model to improve understanding of the effects of hydrogen on the deformation of structural materials

Decarbonization efforts highlight hydrogen as an attractive alternative to fossil fuels, but its tendency to embrittle structural metals demands careful consideration when designing hydrogen infrastructure. Moreover, the mechanisms by which hydrogen degrades these materials are still being elucidated. The current work develops new computational tools to quantify the different contributions of hydrogen to the energy barrier of cross-slip, a key deformation mechanism. Novel features are implemented to a line tension model, which include the use of non-singular dislocation interactions, character-dependent dislocation energies and simulations of the constriction configurations. A new molecular dynamics technique is developed to calculate the interaction energy between the partials of a dissociated dislocation via fixing the centers of mass of the regions below and above the Shockley partials and performing time-averaged calculations. Hydrogen is found to impact the stacking fault width of dislocations in different ways depending on their characters: it decreases for dislocations with a character θ > 30°, remains unchanged for θ = 30° and increases for θ < 30°. The latter regime is a newly identified mechanism by which hydrogen inhibits cross-slip. Moreover, formation of nano-hydrides is predicted to occur around screw dislocations for high hydrogen concentrations, a phenomenon previously identified only in dislocations with an edge component. If nano-hydrides develop, their influence extending the equilibrium stacking fault width and increasing both the constriction and cross-slip energy barriers dominate over all other hydrogen contributions. The theory and tools developed will pave the way towards a comprehensive understanding of hydrogen-dislocation interactions in structural metals.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Analysis of an Elasto-Hydrodynamic Seal by Using the Reynolds Equation

This paper reports numerical studies of an Elasto-Hydrodynamic (EHD) seal, which is being developed for supercritical CO2 (sCO2) turbomachinery applications. Current sCO2 turbomachinery suffers from high leakage rates, which is creating a major roadblock to the full realization of sCO2 power technology. The high leakage rates not only penalize the efficiencies but also create environmental concerns due to greenhouse effects caused by the increased CO2 discharge to the atmosphere. The proposed EHD seal needs to work at elevated pressures (10–35 MPa) and temperatures (350–700 °C) with low leakage and minimal wear. The unique mechanism of the EHD seal provides a self-regulated constriction effect to restrict the flow without substantial material contact, thereby minimizing leakage and wear. This work utilizes a physics-based modeling approach. The flow through the gradually narrowing seal clearance is modeled by the well-known Reynolds equation in EHD lubrication theory, while the deformation of the seal is modeled by using the governing equations of three-dimensional solid mechanics. As for the solution methodology, COMSOL’s Thin-Film Flow and Solid Mechanics modules were employed with their powerful capabilities. The numerical results were presented and discussed. It was observed that the Reynolds equation fully coupled with the surface deformation was able to successfully capture the constriction effect. The maximum and minimum leakages were calculated to be 2.25 g/s and 0.1 g/s at P = 5.5 MPa and P = 11 MPa for the design seal, respectively. It was interesting to observe that the seal leakage followed a quadratic trend with increasing pressure differential, which can become advantageous for high-pressure applications such as sCO2 power generation technology.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Preliminary study of a wall stabilized constructed arc

An iterative, implicit, finite-difference numerical technique is described which is suitable for obtaining solutions to the governing equations for a gas flowing in an axially symmetric constricted-arc heater. The method is shown to provide adequate solutions for three cases of simple pipe flows found in the literature, and for flow in a constricted-arc heater by direct comparison with experimental data. The comparison with arc-heater data includes static pressure, arc voltage, and wall heat flux, all as a function of axial location, and a radial temperature profile at one axial station. The arc-heater data were taken with air as the test gas at a heater inlet pressure approximately 0.40 atm and two flow rates of 2.2 and 4.8 g/sec. The arc currents investigated were between 377 and 584 amperes.

Graves, R. A.↗

Effect of gravitational overloads, hypokinesia and hypodynamia on the vessels of the pulmonary blood circuit

Vessels of the pulmonary circuit are studied under normal conditions, in exposure to single stress or continuous threshold endurable chestspine gravitational stresses, and one to eight weak hypokinesia and hypodynamic effects followed by stress. Examination methods include rentgenography and microrentgenography, clearing, and histology. In exposure to gravitational stress the distal portions of the arterial vessels of the 3 and 4 orders constrict, while all veins dilate. Sinuosity of all vessels is noted. The volume of the capillary bed increases and signs of perivascular edema occur. Due to hypokinesia and hypodynamia the arteries constricted and the arterial bed becomes poor. The veins of all orders dilate and the volume of the capillary bed increases. The changes grew greater the longer the terms of hypodyamic effects. Successive combination of hypokinesia and hypodynamia and gravitational stresses cause more pronounced changes than separate effects of these two factors and result in great deformity of the vascular walls, including their rupture and penetration of formed elements beyond the limits of the vascular bed.

Kasimtsev, A. A.↗

Effects of gravitational stress, hypokinesia and hypodynamia on the structure of the vascular bed of the spleen

The effects of two extreme factors, hypokinesia and hypodynamia, on spleen vascular beds were studied on 180 male and female albino rats. Vessels were studied by roentgenography, microroentgenography, clearing of sections and histology. Gravity stress yielded construction of all links of arterial bed and of order 5-7 veins. Large intraorganic vein diameters changed significantly but erratically. Hypokinesia in early phases produced pronounced spleen size reduction. Veins and arteries constricted along entire length. Later hypokinetic stages showed arteries still constricted; veins began to dilate from week 4 of hypokinesia. Sinuosity, uneven contours and varicose dilations of walls in large arteries and veins occurred. Abrupt changes in parenchyma, e.g., atrophy of folliculi, narrowing of lumen of central arteries from thickening of muscular wall. After exposure to hypokinesia followed by gravitational stress, pronounced lesions such as deformation of vascular wall, including rupture, in all vessels of the spleen vascular bed.

Nesterenko, N. T.↗

A groundwater convection model for Rio Grande rift geothermal resources

It has been proposed that forced convection, driven by normal groundwater flow through the interconnected basins of the Rio Grande rift is the primary source mechanism for the numerous geothermal anomalies along the rift. A test of this concept using an analytical model indicates that significant forced convection must occur in the basins even if permeabilities are as low as 50-200 millidarcies at a depth of 2 km. Where groundwater flow is constricted at the discharge areas of the basins forced convection can locally increase the gradient to a level where free convection also occurs, generating surface heat flow anomalies 5-15 times background. A compilation of groundwater data for the rift basins shows a strong correlation between constrictions in groundwater flow and hot springs and geothermal anomalies, giving strong circumstantial support to the convection model.

Morgan, P.↗

Numerical Modeling of a Vortex Stabilized Arcjet

Arcjet thrusters are being actively considered for use in Earth orbit maneuvering applications. Experimental studies are currently the chief means of determining an optimal thruster configuration. Earlier numerical studies have failed to include all of the effects found in typical arcjets including complex geometries, viscosity, and swirling flow. Arcjet geometries are large area ratio converging nozzles with centerbodies in the subsonic portion of the nozzle. The nozzle walls serve as the anode while the centerbody functions as the cathode. Viscous effects are important because the Reynolds number, based on the throat radius, is typically less than 1,000. Experimental studies have shown that a swirl or circumferential velocity component stabilizes a constricted arc. This dissertation describes the equations governing flow through a constricted arcjet thruster. An assumption that the flowfield is in local thermodynamic equilibrium leads to a single fluid plasma temperature model. An order of magnitude analysis reveals the governing fluid mechanics equations are uncoupled from the electromagnetic field equations. A numerical method is developed to solve the governing fluid mechanics equations, the Thin Layer Navier-Stokes equations. A coordinate transformation is employed in deriving the governing equations to simplify the application of boundary conditions in complex geometries. An axisymmetric formulation is employed to include the swirl velocity component as well as the axial and radial velocity components. The numerical method is an implicit finite-volume technique and allows for large time steps to reach a converged steady-state solution. The inviscid fluxes are flux-split, and Gauss-Seidel line relaxation is used to accelerate convergence. Converging-diverging nozzles with exit-to-throat area ratios up to 100:1 and annular nozzles were examined. Quantities examined included Mach number and static wall pressure distributions, and oblique shock structures. As the level of swirl and viscosity in the flowfield increased the mass flow rate and thrust decreased. The technique was used to predict the flow through a typical arcjet thruster geometry. Results indicate swirl and viscosity play an important role in the complex geometry of an arcjet.

Pawlas, Gary E.↗

Effect of ground and ceiling planes on shape of energized wakes

Energized wakes expelled by devices like thrust augmentors, propellers and rotors are studied theoretically in order to explore how their shape changes as they interact with ground and ceiling planes. It is found that when the airstream is stationary and the vehicle in hover, the presence of a ceiling plane causes an energized wake to constrict even more than when in an unbounded medium. The presence of a ground plane is found to cause the wake to constrict less than in free space. The computations also show that the vortex sheets first move inward before moving downward. Along their trajectory, the vortex sheets that separate the energized fluid from the ambient fluid have a nearly constant strength and velocity which indicates that the velocity just inside the wake is approximately constant. When a velocity is given to the wind tunnel airstream, the forward edge of the wake first rises and then descends so that it spends more time in the vicinity of the actuator disk. Implications of these results on measurements obtained in wind tunnels are discussed.

Rossow, Vernon J.↗

An Optical Study of the Circumstellar Environment Around the Crab Nebula

Long-slit spectra of two peripheral regions around the Crab Nebula show no H(alpha) emission down to a flux level of 1.5 x 10(exp -7)erg/sq cm s sr (0.63 Rayleigh), corresponding to an emission measure limit of 4.2 cm(sup - 6) pc (3(sigma)) assuming A(sub V)= 1.6(sup m) and T(sub e)=7000 K. This is below the flux levels reported by Murdin & Clark (Nature, 294, 543 (198 1)) for an H(alpha) halo around the Crab. Narrow H(beta) emission as described by Murdin (MNRAS, 269, 89 (1994)) is detected but appears to be Galactic emission unassociated with the remnant. A review of prior searches indicates no convincing observational evidence to support either a high- or low-velocity envelope around the remnant. Spectral scans confirm a well-organized, N-S expansion asymmetry of the filaments with a approx. 500 km/s central velocity constriction as described by MacAlpine et al. (ApJ, 342, 364 (1989)) and Lawrence et (it. (AJ, 109, 2635 (1995)] but questioned by Hester et al. (ApJ, 448, 240 (1995)). The velocity pinching appears to coincide with an cast-west chain of bright [O III] and helium-rich filaments. This expansion asymmetry might be the result of ejecta interaction with a disk of circumstellar matter, but such a model may be inconsistent with H and He filament abundances in the velocity constriction zone. A re-analysis of the remnant's total mass suggests that the filaments contain 4.6 +/- 1.8 M(solar) in ionized and neutral cas, about twice that of earlier estimates. For a 10M(solar) progenitor, this suggests that approx.equals 4M(solar) remains to be detected in an extended halo or wind.

Fesen, Robert A.↗

Understanding How Space Travel Affects Blood Vessels: Arterial Remodeling and Functional Adaptations Induced by Microgravity

Ever rise quickly from the couch to get something from the kitchen and suddenly feel dizzy? With a low heart rate and relaxed muscles, the cardiovascular system does not immediately provide the resistance necessary to keep enough blood going to your head. Gravity wins, at least for a short time, before your heart and blood vessels can respond to the sudden change in position and correct the situation. Actually, the human cardiovascular system is quite well adapted to the constant gravitational force of the Earth. When standing, vessels in the legs constrict to prevent blood from collecting in the lower extremities. In the space environment, the usual head-to-foot blood pressure and tissue fluid gradients that exist during the upright posture on Earth are removed. The subsequent shift in fluids from the lower to the upper portions of the body triggers adaptations within the cardiovascular system to accommodate the new pressure and fluid gradients. In animal models that simulate microgravity, the vessels in the head become more robust while those in the lower limbs become thin and lax. Similar changes may also occur in humans during spaceflight and while these adaptations are appropriate for a microgravity environment, they can cause problems when the astronauts return to Earth or perhaps another planet. Astronauts often develop orthostatic intolerance which means they become dizzy or faint when standing upright. This dizziness can persist for a number of days making routine activities difficult. In an effort to understand the physiological details of these cardiovascular adaptations, Dr. Michael Delp at Texas A&M University, uses the rat as a model for his studies. For the experiment flown on STS-107, he will test the hypothesis that blood vessels in the rats' hindlimbs become thinner, weaker, and constrict less in response to pressure changes and to chemical signals when exposed to microgravity. In addition, he will test the hypothesis that arteries in the brain become thicker as a result of microgravity-induced fluid shifts toward the head.

Delp, Michael↗

Performance Enhancement of Tunable Bandpass Filters Using Selective Etched Ferroelectric Thin Films

The inclusion of voltage-tunable barium strontium titanate (BSTO) thin films into planar band pass filters offers tremendous potential to increase their versatility. The ability to tune the passband so as to correct for minor deviations in manufacturing tolerances, or to completely reconfigure the operating frequencies of a microwave communication system, are highly sought-after goals. However, use of ferroelectric films in these devices results in higher dielectric losses, which in turn increase the insertion loss and decrease the quality factors of the filters. This study explores the use of patterned ferroelectric layers to minimize dielectric losses without degrading tunability. Patterning the ferroelectric layers enables us to constrict the width of the ferroelectric layers between the coupled microstrip lines, and minimize losses due to ferroelectric layers. Coupled one-pole microstrip bandpass filters with fundamental resonances at approx. 7.2 GHz and well defined harmonic resonances at approx. 14.4 and approx. 21.6 GHz, were designed, simulated and tested. For one of the filters, experimental results verified that its center frequency was tunable by 528 MHz at a center frequency of 21.957 GHz, with insertion losses varying from 4.3 to 2.5 dB, at 0 and 3.5 V/micron, respectively. These data demonstrate that the tuning-to-loss figure of merit of tunable microstrip filters can be greatly improved using patterned ferroelectric thin films as the tuning element, and tuning can be controlled by engineering the ferroelectric constriction in the coupled sections.

Miranda, Felix A.↗

Otx1 null mutant mice show partial segregation of sensory epithelia comparable to lamprey ears

We investigated the development of inner ear innervation in Otx1 null mutants, which lack a horizontal canal, between embryonic day 12 (E12) and postnatal day 7 (P7) with DiI and immunostaining for acetylated tubulin. Comparable to control animals, horizontal crista-like fibers were found to cross over the utricle in Otx1 null mice. In mutants these fibers extend toward an area near the endolymphatic duct, not to a horizontal crista. Most Otx1 null mutants had a small patch of sensory hair cells at this position. Measurement of the area of the utricular macula suggested it to be enlarged in Otx1 null mutants. We suggest that parts of the horizontal canal crista remain incorporated in the utricular sensory epithelium in Otx1 null mutants. Other parts of the horizontal crista appear to be variably segregated to form the isolated patch of hair cells identifiable by the unique fiber trajectory as representing the horizontal canal crista. Comparison with lamprey ear innervation reveals similarities in the pattern of innervation with the dorsal macula, a sensory patch of unknown function. SEM data confirm that all foramina are less constricted in Otx1 null mutants. We propose that Otx1 is not directly involved in sensory hair cell formation of the horizontal canal but affects the segregation of the horizontal canal crista from the utricle. It also affects constriction of the two main foramina in the ear, but not their initial formation. Otx1 is thus causally related to horizontal canal morphogenesis as well as morphogenesis of these foramina.

NASA Discipline Developmental Biology↗

Diode Laser Sensors for Arc-Jet Characterization

The development and application of tunable diode laser (TDL) absorption sensors to monitor the health and operating conditions in the large-scale 60 MW arc-heated- plasma wind-tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center is reported. The interactive heating facility (THF) produces re-entry flow conditions by expanding the gas heated in a constricted plasma arc-heater to flow at high velocity over a model located in a test cabin. This facility provides the conditions needed to test thermal protective systems for spacecraft re-entering the earth s atmosphere. TDL sensors are developed to monitor gas flows in both the high-temperature constricted flow and the supersonic expansion flow into test cabin. These sensors utilize wavelength-tuned diode lasers to measure absorption transitions of atomic oxygen near 777.2 nm, atomic nitrogen near 856.8 nm, and atomic copper near 793.3 nm. The oxygen and nitrogen sensors measure the population density in exited electronic states of these atoms. The measurements combined with the assumption of local thermal and chemical equilibrium yield gas temperature (typically near 7,000K). The nitrogen and oxygen population temperatures are redundant, and their close agreement provides an important test of the local thermal equilibrium assumption. These temperature sensors provide time-resolved monitors of the operating conditions of the arc-heater and can be used to verify and control the test conditions. An additional TDL sensor was developed to monitor the copper concentration in the arc-heater flow yielding values as high as 13 ppm. Measurements of copper in the flow can identify flow conditions with unacceptably rapid electrode erosion, and hence this sensor provides valuable information needed to schedule maintenance to avoid costly arc-heater failure. TDL sensors were also developed for measurements in the test cabin, where absorption measurements of the populations of argon and molecular nitrogen in excited metastable electronic states established that the number density of these excited species is much lower than estimated using frozen-chemistry approximations. This key finding suggests that in the post-expansion region there is not a significant energy sequestration in electronically excited species. Finally, TDL measurements of atomic potassium seeded into the test cabin flow were used to directly measure the static temperature of the test gas. The results of this study illustrate the high potential of time-resolved TDL measurements for routine and economical sensing of arc-heater health (gas temperature and electrode erosion) as well as the time-resolved test-cabin-flow conditions in front of the model.

Hanson, Ronald K.↗

Circadian and Fatigue Effects on the Dynamics of the Pupillary Light Reflex

The pupillary light reflex (PLR) is known to be driven by the photo-entrainment of intrinsically-photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. These ganglion cells are known to have retino-hypothalamic projections to the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which regulates circadian rhythms, and bilateral retinal projections to the pretectal area, which mediates the PLR (Dacey et al., 2005; Hattar et al., 2002, 2006). The magnitude of the PLR has previously been shown to show circadian variation (Mnch et al., 2012). In this study, we used a constant routine protocol (Mills et al., 1978) to examine circadian and fatigue effects on the dynamics of the PLR. We characterized the PLR (pupil size as a function of time) in response to a square-wave change in the luminance of a white display background, at ten different times over a single circadian cycle. Twelve subjects participated in three daytime baseline runs followed by 7 nighttime runs each separated by an hour (17 23 hours after awakening). The constriction and dilation phases of the PLR waveform were fit separately with a single exponential model (Longtin Milton, 1988; Milton Longtin, 1990) with time constants estimated using a least-squares method. The dilation time constant exhibited a distinct sinusoidal modulation across the circadian cycle and, after 23 hours of wakefulness, decreased on average by 82 ms (paired t-test, p 0.05) relative to baseline (mean: 543 ms). The constriction time constant however, did not show an overall decrease with increased wakefulness. We conclude that the dynamics of the PLR show circadian variation and that, in addition, the briskness of the dilation response to a step-decrease in luminance shows a homeostatic enhancement with increased wakefulness.

human performance↗

A Screening Method Using Pulsed-Power Combined with Infrared Imaging to Detect Pattern Defects in Bulk Metal Foil or Thin Film Resistors

Bulk metal foil and thin film resistors occasionally contain localized defects within the etched resistor pattern. Common defects of this type include in-line constrictions referred to as notches, unremoved resistor material bridges between adjacent pattern lines, and embedded non-conductive particles in the resistor material. Such defects are prone to fracture due to thermomechanical fatigue during powered operation, especially power cycling, resulting in positive resistance change and open circuit failure modes. Common screening methods of optical microscopy, short time overload power tests (e.g., 6.25x rated power for 5 seconds) and burn-in (e.g., 1.5x rated power for 100 hours) are useful, but they are not always effective at removing devices with such defects. An improved method has been developed to screen for localized resistor pattern defects. The method involves the application of brief, high power electrical pulses at a low duty cycle while inspecting the resistor with a high resolution, high speed infrared camera. The following test conditions were found to be suitable for this purpose: 6.25x rated power, 1 to 5 pulses, 50 ms pulse width and 10% duty cycle. During the power pulsing, localized constrictions in the resistor pattern are identifiable as hot spots via the infrared camera. Reject criteria can be established based on observations of hot spots. To assess its effectiveness, a total of two hundred eighty (280) surface mount foil resistors (40 each from 7 different lots) were screened using this infrared technique. The screening identified twenty-nine (29) resistors with significant hot spots in the resistor pattern. All 280 resistors were then subjected to an industry standard 10,000 hour life test at 1x rated power at 70°C with power cycled for 90 minutes on and 30 minutes off. During life testing, three resistors exhibited positive resistance change failure mode. All three failures were due to thermomechanical fatigue failure of localized bridge defects at the locations identified via infrared screening. The results of this evaluation illustrate the benefits of the pulsed-power infrared detection screening technique to identify reliability suspect foil or thin film resistors that may escape common screening methods.

screening↗

A Screening Method Using Pulsed-Power Combined with Infrared Imaging to Detect Pattern Defects in Bulk Metal Foil or Thin Film Resistors

Bulk metal foil and thin film resistors occasionally contain localized defects within the etched resistor pattern. Common defects of this type include in-line constrictions referred to as notches, unremoved resistor material bridges between adjacent pattern lines, and embedded non-conductive particles in the resistor material. Such defects are prone to fracture due to thermomechanical fatigue during powered operation, especially power cycling, resulting in positive resistance change and open circuit failure modes. Common screening methods of optical microscopy, short time overload power tests (e.g., 6.25x rated power for 5 seconds) and burn-in (e.g., 1.5x rated power for 100 hours) are useful, but they are not always effective at removing devices with such defects. An improved method has been developed to screen for localized resistor pattern defects. The method involves the application of brief, high power electrical pulses at a low duty cycle while inspecting the resistor with a high resolution, high speed infrared camera. The following test conditions were found to be suitable for this purpose: 6.25x rated power, 1 to 5 pulses, 50 ms pulse width and 10% duty cycle. During the power pulsing, localized constrictions in the resistor pattern are identifiable as hot spots via the infrared camera. Reject criteria can be established based on observations of hot spots. To assess its effectiveness, a total of two hundred eighty (280) surface mount foil resistors (40 each from 7 different lots) were screened using this infrared technique. The screening identified twenty-nine (29) resistors with significant hot spots in the resistor pattern. All 280 resistors were then subjected to an industry standard 10,000 hour life test at 1x rated power at 70°C with power cycled for 90 minutes on and 30 minutes off. During life testing, three resistors exhibited positive resistance change failure mode. All three failures were due to thermomechanical fatigue failure of localized bridge defects at the locations identified via infrared screening. The results of this evaluation illustrate the benefits of the pulsed-power infrared detection screening technique to identify reliability suspect foil or thin film resistors that may escape common screening methods.

screening↗

Average Heat Flux Measurements in a Gaseous Detonation-Based Rocket Engine

Rotating detonation rocket engines (RDREs) offer benefits over traditional deflagrative engines, including increased engine performance, compact combustion and negligible detrimental thermoacoustic instabilities due to mode-locking. Realizing the benefits of a detonation-based propulsion system will be accompanied by increased thermal loads due to a combination of heat release at elevated pressure and temperature, as well as compact heat release due to detonation. Managing these heat loads necessitates the development of thermal management strategies. As a first step towards establishing the requirements for detonation-based engine thermal management strategies, this work develops an additively manufactured (AM) water-based, axially resolved calorimeter for integration in an existing 76.8 mm outer diameter (OD) RDRE to measure average chamber heat flux. In particular, the calorimetry outer body provides average heat flux data via circumferential channels at nine axial stations to axially resolve the heat flux distribution on the chamber outer wall. The average heat flux is found to be 5 − 12 MW/m 2 for a straight annulus and 6 − 18 MW/m 2 for a constricted annular configuration which exhibited maximum heat flux at the throat. A difference in heat flux scaling is observed near the detonation region compared to the downstream flow expansion section in the constricted geometry. By quantifying the axial distribution of heat flux, this work seeks to support the development of thermal management systems for long duration firing of detonation-based devices.

Matthew A Maybee↗

Average Heat Flux Measurements in a Gaseous Detonation-Based Rocket Engine

Rotating detonation rocket engines (RDREs) offer benefits over traditional deflagrative engines, including increased engine performance, compact combustion and negligible detrimental thermoacoustic instabilities due to mode-locking. Realizing the benefits of a detonation-based propulsion system will be accompanied by increased thermal loads due to a combination of heat release at elevated pressure and temperature, as well as compact heat release due to detonation. Managing these heat loads necessitates the development of thermal management strategies. As a first step towards establishing the requirements for detonation-based engine thermal management strategies, this work develops an additively manufactured (AM) water-based, axially resolved calorimeter for integration in an existing 76.8 mm outer diameter (OD) RDRE to measure average chamber heat flux. In particular, the calorimetry outer body provides average heat flux data via circumferential channels at nine axial stations to axially resolve the heat flux distribution on the chamber outer wall. The average heat flux is found to be 5 − 12 MW/m 2 for a straight annulus and 6 − 18 MW/m 2 for a constricted annular configuration which exhibited maximum heat flux at the throat. A difference in heat flux scaling is observed near the detonation region compared to the downstream flow expansion section in the constricted geometry. By quantifying the axial distribution of heat flux, this work seeks to support the development of thermal management systems for long duration firing of detonation-based devices.

Matthew A Maybee↗