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Results for “Solution thermodynamics”

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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Thermomechanical coupling in fatigue fracture of viscoelastic materials

Subcritical crack growth in a linear viscoelastic material subjected to cyclic loading is investigated starting with the thermodynamic power balance. Physically, it is supposed that the subcritical slow crack growth is due to local weakening of the material in the neighborhood of the crack tip. Under fatigue loading it is assumed that all energy dissipation goes into heat and that this heat build-up is the dominant irreversible process governing crack growth. The cycle averaged temperature distribution around the crack tip is obtained from local application of the first law of thermodynamics (i.e., conservation of energy). The analysis leads to the solution of a nonlinear integro-differential equation for crack length as a function of time which is coupled with the local energy equation. A regular perturbation technique is used to obtain an analytical solution which compares very well with experimental results.

Hufferd, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Real gas flow fields about three dimensional configurations

Real gas, inviscid supersonic flow fields over a three-dimensional configuration are determined using a factored implicit algorithm. Air in chemical equilibrium is considered and its local thermodynamic properties are computed by an equilibrium composition method. Numerical solutions are presented for both real and ideal gases at three different Mach numbers and at two different altitudes. Selected results are illustrated by contour plots and are also tabulated for future reference. Results obtained compare well with existing tabulated numerical solutions and hence validate the solution technique.

Balakrishnan, A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Flowfield computation of an aerobrake orbital transfer vehicle

Viscous real gas and ideal gas supersonic flowfields over the forebody of a aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle are determined using a unsteady factored implicit algorithm. Air in chemical equilibrium is considered and its local thermodynamic properties are computed by an equilibrium composition method. Numerical solutions are obtained for both real and ideal gases at a Mach number of 30 and at angles of attack up to 20 degrees. Shock stand-off distances and surface pressure distributions are presented for the gas models with and without viscous effects. For the freestream conditions considered, viscous effects dominate the flow.

Balakrishnan, A.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Approaches to Cycle Analysis and Performance Metrics

The following notes were prepared as part of an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsored short course entitled Air Breathing Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE) Technology. The course was presented in January of 2003, and again in July of 2004 at two different AIAA meetings. It was taught by seven instructors, each of whom provided information on particular areas of PDE research. These notes cover two areas. The first is titled Approaches to Cycle Analysis and Performance Metrics. Here, the various methods of cycle analysis are introduced. These range from algebraic, thermodynamic equations, to single and multi-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) solutions. Also discussed are the various means by which performance is measured, and how these are applied in a device which is fundamentally unsteady. The second topic covered is titled PDE Hybrid Applications. Here the concept of coupling a PDE to a conventional turbomachinery based engine is explored. Motivation for such a configuration is provided in the form of potential thermodynamic benefits. This is accompanied by a discussion of challenges to the technology.

Parson, Daniel E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

An Entropy-Based Approach to Nonlinear Stability

Many numerical methods used in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) incorporate an artificial dissipation term to suppress spurious oscillations and control nonlinear instabilities. The same effect can be accomplished by using upwind techniques, sometimes augmented with limiters to form Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) schemes. An analysis based on numerical satisfaction of the second law of thermodynamics allows many such methods to be compared and improved upon. A nonlinear stability proof is given for discrete scalar equations arising from a conservation law. Solutions to such equations are bounded in the L sub 2 norm if the second law of thermodynamics is satisfied in a global sense over a periodic domain. It is conjectured that an analogous statement is true for discrete equations arising from systems of conservation laws. Analysis and numerical experiments suggest that a more restrictive condition, a positive entropy production rate in each cell, is sufficient to exclude unphysical phenomena such as oscillations and expansion shocks. Construction of schemes which satisfy this condition is demonstrated for linear and nonlinear wave equations and for the one-dimensional Euler equations.

Merriam, Marshal L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Diatomic molecule variations

The rotational energy is separated from vibrational energy in the two-particle, steady-state wave equation and to first order the solutions are harmonic oscillator functions. The classical phase integral gives a partition function valid only at high temperature, but the quantum summation is easily performed to give analytic expressions for all the thermodynamic properties of the harmonic oscillator at all temperatures. Anharmonic effects are treated by small perturbation solutions to the wave equation and the relation between energy levels and a series expansion of the perturbation potential is derived. Next, the quantum solutions for an oscillator with a Morse-function potential are derived in terms of Laguerre polynomials.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2000

Cascade Optimization Strategy with Neural Network and Regression Approximations Demonstrated on a Preliminary Aircraft Engine Design

A preliminary aircraft engine design methodology is being developed that utilizes a cascade optimization strategy together with neural network and regression approximation methods. The cascade strategy employs different optimization algorithms in a specified sequence. The neural network and regression methods are used to approximate solutions obtained from the NASA Engine Performance Program (NEPP), which implements engine thermodynamic cycle and performance analysis models. The new methodology is proving to be more robust and computationally efficient than the conventional optimization approach of using a single optimization algorithm with direct reanalysis. The methodology has been demonstrated on a preliminary design problem for a novel subsonic turbofan engine concept that incorporates a wave rotor as a cycle-topping device. Computations of maximum thrust were obtained for a specific design point in the engine mission profile. The results (depicted in the figure) show a significant improvement in the maximum thrust obtained using the new methodology in comparison to benchmark solutions obtained using NEPP in a manual design mode.

Hopkins, Dale A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Scale covariant gravitation. V - Kinetic theory. VI - Stellar structure and evolution

A scale covariant kinetic theory for particles and photons is developed. The mathematical framework of the theory is given by the tangent bundle of a Weyl manifold. The Liouville equation is derived, and solutions to corresponding equilibrium distributions are presented and shown to yield thermodynamic results identical to the ones obtained previously. The scale covariant theory is then used to derive results of interest to stellar structure and evolution. A radiative transfer equation is derived that can be used to study stellar evolution with a variable gravitational constant. In addition, it is shown that the sun's absolute luminosity scales as L approximately equal to GM/kappa, where kappa is the stellar opacity. Finally, a formula is derived for the age of globular clusters as a function of the gravitational constant using a previously derived expression for the absolute luminosity.

Hsieh, S.-H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Protein crystal growth; Proceedings of the First International Conference, Stanford University, CA, August 14-16, 1985

Papers are presented on mechanisms of nucleation and growth of protein crystals, the role of purification in the crystallization of proteins and nucleic acids, and the effect of chemical impurities in polyethylene glycol on macromolecular crystallization. Also considered are growth kinetics of tetragonal lysozyme crystals, thermodynamic and kinetic considerations for crystal growth of complex molecules from solution, protein single-crystal growth under microgravity, and growth of organic crystals in a microgravity environment. Papers are also presented on preliminary investigations of protein crystal growth using the Space Shuttle, convective diffusion in protein crystal growth, and the growth and characterization of membrane protein crystals.

Feigelson, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Enthalpies of a binary alloy during solidification

The purpose of the paper is to present a method of calculating the enthalpy of a dendritic alloy during solidification. The enthalpies of the dendritic solid and interdendritic liquid of alloys of the Pb-Sn system are evaluated, but the method could be applied to other binaries, as well. The enthalpies are consistent with a recent evaluation of the thermodynamics of Pb-Sn alloys and with the redistribution of solute in the same during dendritic solidification. Because of the heat of mixing in Pb-Sn alloys, the interdendritic liquid of hypoeutectic alloys (Pb-rich) of less than 50 wt pct Sn has enthalpies that increase as temperature decreases during solidification.

Poirier, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

An analysis of the vapor flow and the heat conduction through the liquid-wick and pipe wall in a heat pipe with single or multiple heat sources

A numerical analysis is presented for the overall performance of heat pipes with single or multiple heat sources. The analysis includes the heat conduction in the wall and liquid-wick regions as well as the compressibility effect of the vapor inside the heat pipe. The two-dimensional elliptic governing equations in conjunction with the thermodynamic equilibrium relation and appropriate boundary conditions are solved numerically. The solutions are in agreement with existing experimental data for the vapor and wall temperatures at both low and high operating temperatures.

Chen, Ming-Ming↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Physics of Protein Crystallization

This paper covers review of recent research on protein crystal properties, nucleation, growth and perfection. Mechanical properties of crystals built of molecules strongly exceeding the range of molecular forces are very different from conventional ones. Similar scaling is responsible for specificity of phase equilibrium for macromolecular systems of which thermodynamics is discussed. Nucleation and growth peculiarity and similarity in protein solutions as compared to inorganic solutions is addressed. Hypotheses on why and when microgravity (lack of convection) conditions may result in more perfect crystals are discussed.

Vekilov, P. G.↗
NASA NTRS1967

Thermodynamic analysis of dilute ternary systems. 1. The Ag-Au-Sn system

The heats of solution of silver and gold in dilute Ag-Au-Sn alloys have been determined as a function of alloy composition using liquid metal solution calorimetry. From the values obtained, the various enthalpy interaction parameters in the liquid solutions have been calculated. The results are interpreted in terms of the probably bonding changes taking place between silver, gold and tin atoms.

P J Spencer↗
NASA NTRS1991

A survey of spacecraft thermal design solutions

A review of activities at the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center in the heat transfer and thermodynamics disciplines as well as attendant fluid mechanics, transport phenomena, and computer science applications is presented. Attention is focused on recent activities including the Hubble Space Telescope, and large space instruments, particularly telescope thermal control systems such as those flown aboard Spacelab 2 and the Astro missions. Emphasis is placed on defining the thermal control features, unique design schemes, and performance of selected programs. Results obtained both by ground testing and analytical means, as well as flight and postflight data are presented.

Humphries, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Hydrogen quantum yields in the 360 nm photolysis of Eu/2+/ solutions and their relationship to photochemical fuel formation

Water decomposition by a cyclic photoredox process is discussed in general terms. Thermodynamics determines the wavelength of the charge-transfer band corresponding to electron transfer to or from water of hydration of a cation. These relationships indicate that it is unlikely that a photoreduction reaction resulting in water decomposition will occur in the sea-level solar range of wavelengths. Such is not the case for photooxidation, and an example is known: the photolysis of Eu(2+) in aqueous solution. Hydrogen quantum yields have been determined for this reaction. They are sufficiently high (about 0.3) as to offer encourangement for the further exploration of photoredox reactions as a means of solar energy conversion.

Ryason, P. R.↗