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NASA NTRS2010

2010 ESMD Faculty Fellowship Project

This slide presentation reviews is composed of 6 individual sections. The first is a introductory section that explains the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) Faculty Fellowship Project, the purpose of which is to prepare selected university faculty to work with senior design students to complete projects that have potential to contribute to NASA objectives. The following university presentations represent the chosen projects: (1) the use of Exploration Toolset for the Optimization of Launch and Space Systems (X-TOOLSS) to optimize the Lunar Wormbot design; (2) development of Hardware Definition Language (HDL) realization of ITU G.729 for FGPA; (3) cryogenic fluid and electrical quick connect system and a lunar regolith design; (4) Lunar Landing Pad development; and (5) Prognostics for complex systems.

Carmen, Christina L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Preliminary experimental studies into the storage capacity of cryogenic hydrogen in aerogel blanket materials

The abundance and diversity of hydrogen applications necessitates continued and accelerated research into advanced storage technologies. Traditionally, hydrogen has been stored as either a high-pressure, warm gas; or a low-pressure, cryogenic liquid. Methods such as cryo-supercritical and cryo-adsorbed have been explored, but are not yet mainstream. Cryo-adsorbed is attractive because higher storage densities at higher temperatures than liquid may be achieved. Recently NASA, in partnership with Eta Space, Southwest Research Institute, the University of Central Florida, and Air Liquide, have been exploring the use of inexpensive, commercially available silica aerogel blanket materials for cryo-adsorbed hydrogen storage. Unlike most adsorbents, aerogel blanket is not a powder, but a robust, composite material that can be formed into complex shapes to aid in more efficient storage system designs, and has already been proven to uptake large quantities of fluids such as nitrogen and oxygen. Recent experimental efforts into the uptake of low-pressure hydrogen gas at 77 K, and liquid hydrogen at normal boiling point (NBP) will be discussed. Although preliminary in nature, the test results are promising, showing up to a 49% increase in storage density at 77 K over the gas alone, and greater than a one-to-one volume equivalency with NBP LH 2 .

A M Swanger↗
DOE OSTI2011

Large Matched-Index-of-Refraction (MIR) Flow Systems for Thermal Engineering Education

In recent international collaboration, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (UE) have developed large MIR flow systems which are ideal for joint graduate student education and research. The benefit of the MIR technique is that it permits optical measurements to determine flow characteristics in complex passages and around objects to be obtained without locating a disturbing transducer in the flow field and without distortion of the optical paths. The MIR technique is not new itself; others employed it earlier. The innovation of these MIR systems is their large size relative to previous experiments, yielding improved spatial and temporal resolution. This article will discuss the benefits of the technique, characteristics of the systems and some examples of their applications to complex situations. Typically their experiments have provided new fundamental understanding plus benchmark data for assessment and validation of computational thermal fluid dynamic codes.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Multiphysics for nuclear energy applications using a cohesive computational framework

With the recent development of advanced numerical algorithms, software design, and low-cost high-performance computer hardware, reliance on coupled multiphysics to predict the behavior of complex physical systems is beginning to become standard practice. This is especially true in nuclear energy applications where strong nonlinear interdependencies exist between reactor physics, radiation transport, multi-scale nuclear fuels performance, thermal fluids, etc. Resolving these nonlinear dependencies requires choices in multiphysics software approaches. Two main multiphysics modeling and simulation approaches have emerged. The first is based upon "code coupling" where disparate physics codes of different software design, code languages, and spatial and temporal integration schemes are coupled together with relatively complex data passing interfaces. The second multiphysics software approach is to employ a "cohesive" framework where all physics applications are developed with a common software design, i.e., data structures, syntax, input format, integrated spatial and temporal discretization schemes, etc. In this paper we present the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) development and runtime framework and describe the framework's cohesive modeling and simulation multiphysics approach. Then, a "cohesive-like" extension of the MOOSE framework is presented where MOOSE-based physics software applications are efficiently coupled to non-MOOSE (external) physics codes to form multiphysics applications using MOOSE's unique interface capabilities. Finally, several examples of MOOSE's cohesive and cohesive-like multiphysics applications will be demonstrated. These multiphysics demonstrations will incorporate both MOOSE-based applications and external codes, including Nek5000, RELAP-7, TRACE, BISON, and Pronghorn.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Diffusion of self-propelled particles in complex media

The diffusion of active microscopic organisms in complex environments plays an important role in a wide range of biological phenomena from cell colony growth to single organism transport. Here, we investigate theoretically and computationally the diffusion of a self-propelled particle (the organism) embedded in a complex medium composed of a collection of nonmotile solid particles that mimic soil or other cells. Under such conditions we find that the rotational relaxation time of the swimming direction depends on the swimming velocity and is drastically reduced compared to a pure Newtonian fluid. This leads to a dramatic increase (of several orders of magnitude) in the effective rotational diffusion coefficient of the self-propelled particles, which can lead to “self-trapping” of the active particles in such complex media. An analytical model is put forward that quantitatively captures the computational results. Our work sheds light on the role that the environment plays in the behavior of active systems and can be generalized in a straightforward fashion to understand other synthetic and biological active systems in heterogenous environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Full-Envelope Aero-Propulsive Model Identification for Lift+Cruise Aircraft Using Computational Experiments

This paper describes a process utilizing computational fluid dynamics experiments to develop a reduced-order, integrated propulsion-airframe aerodynamic model for a lift+cruise electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) reference aircraft concept. eVTOL configurations exhibit aerodynamic characteristics of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as well as complex phenomena, such as propulsion-airframe interactions. Consequently, conventional aircraft aerodynamic modeling strategies require modification when applied to these unique aircraft. A novel aero-propulsive modeling approach using design of experiments techniques and computational fluid dynamics simulations is postulated for modeling a lift+cruise aircraft configuration. Aero-propulsive models are developed throughout the operational flight envelope to enable continuous flight dynamics simulations from hover through forward flight. The model adequacy is assessed using validation data acquired separately from data used to identify the model and indicates that the models have sufficient predictive capability. Research findings are presented with a discussion of unique lift+cruise aircraft aerodynamic characteristics and practical strategies to inform future aero-propulsive modeling and simulation efforts for eVTOL aircraft.

lift+cruise↗
DOE OSTI2018

Fluid Dynamics Effects on Microstructure Prediction in Single Laser Tracks for Additive Manufacturing

The Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing (LPBFAM) is one of the most important processes for the production of lightweight, cost-effective, complex, and high-performance enduse parts. At present, the cost and time associated with LPBFAM process development is very high due to a lack of fundamental process understanding. In this project, a multi-physics model was developed on a highly parallel open-source code, Truchas, with the ultimate goal of providing experimentally validated process maps for tailoring microstructure to achieve desired performance for LPBFAM. As a critical step towards fully LPBFAM modeling, modeling of single-track laser fusion (STLF) were conducted. Multi-physics simulations were conducted using Truchas for STLF by considering heat transfer, phase-change, fluid dynamics, surface tension phenomena, and evaporation. In order to assess the effect of the fluid dynamics on the solidification and ensuing microstructure, a heat transfer-and-solidification-only (HTS) model and a fully coupled heat-transfer-solidification and fluid-dynamics (HTS-FD) model were considered. In the HTS_FD model, the fluid flow was considered to be laminar while the molten alloy surface is assumed to be flat and non-deformable. This study is one the first attempt to understand the effect of the fluid flow on microstructure in STLF and LPBFAM. The results show that the fluid flow affects the solidification and ensuing microstructure in STLF. In order to validate Truchas for STLF and LPBFAM modeling, experimental data, which was obtained at GE Global Research (GEGR) for liquid pool shape and microstructure, were compared with those from numerical simulation results. For the keyhole regime case, numerical simulation results indicate that the melt-pool shape was typical to that of the conduction case with very large deviations from the measured melt-pool depths. Two sensitivity studies were conducted by varying the evaporation flux and the surface tension coefficient at fixed laser absorptivities of 0.5 and 0.3, respectively. The minimum value for the overall combined error, between the calculated values with the HTS_FD model and measured values for both the width and height of the melt-pool, was attained for a surface tension coefficient of -0.75e-4 N/m. An analytical solidification model for the columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) in rapid solidification was used to assess the microstructure variation within the melt-pool. From numerical simulation results, thermal gradient, G, and solidification velocity, V, were obtained in order to predict the microstructure type (e.g., dendritic, cellular). For the fluid-flow HTS_FD model, G was found to exhibit a maximum at the extremity of the solidified pool (i.e., at the free surface). By contrast, for HTS simulations, G was found to exhibit a maximum around the entire edge of the solidified pool. For the HTS_FD simulations, the minimum values of the cooling rate, GV, were found to be approximately half than their corresponding values for HTS simulations. By contrast with the min GV values, the maximum values for GV were found to occur for the HTS_FD simulations. Thus, HTS_FD simulations were found to exhibit a wider range of cooling rates than the HTS simulations. Concerning the solidification maps, the variation of the solidification velocity, V, as function of the thermal gradient, G, was obtained. It was found that the fluid flow model results (HTS_FD) exhibited an increased spread in the V(G) variation within the melt pool with respect to the HTS model results (without the fluid flow). A preliminary correlation model for the primary dendrite arm spacing (PDAS) based on a power law dependence on thermal gradient and solidification velocity was used to estimate PDAS from HTS and HTS_FD simulations. For low laser powers and low laser speeds, the PDAS obtained 6 with the fluid dynamics model (HTS_FD) was larger by more than 30% with respect to the PDAS calculated with the simple HTS model. In the second part of the project, fifty-seven simulations were conducted in order to obtain data on microstructure variables that can be used for process map development. In order to cover the entire processing space, thirty-three cases were selected STLF process simulations at six power levels and six laser scanning speeds. The 57 STLF process simulations were conducted as follows: 33 simulations with the heat-transfer-only (HTS) model and 24 simulations with the fluid flow model (HTS_FD). The solidification map data shows that for all simulations, a columnar dendritic microstructure would be expected. It was found that the minimum, average, and maximum thermal gradient exhibit exponential variations with respect to a process variable defined as the ratio between the power and square root of scan speed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Concept to diagnose mix with imaging x-ray Thomson scattering

Turbulent mixing of two fluid species is a ubiquitous problem, prevalent in systems such as inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsule implosions, supernova remnants, and other astrophysical systems. In complex, high Reynolds number compressible high energy density (HED) flows such as these, hydrodynamic instabilities initiate the turbulent mixing process, which can then feedback and alter the mean hydrodynamic motion through nonlinear processes. In order to predict how these systems evolve under turbulent conditions, models are used. However, these models require detailed quantitative data to validate and constrain their detailed physics models as well as improve them. Providing this much needed data is currently at the forefront of HED research but is proving elusive due to a lack of available diagnostics capable of directly measuring detailed flow variables. Thomson scattering is a promising technique in this regard as it provides fundamental conditions of the flow ({rho}, T, Zbar) due to its direct interaction with the small scales of the fluid or plasma and was recently considered as a possible mix diagnostic. With the development of imaging x-ray Thomson scattering (IXRTS) obtaining spatial profiles of these variables is within reach. We propose a novel use of the IXRTS technique that will provide more detailed quantitative data required for model validation in mix experiments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Steady State and Quasi-Steady Interface Between the Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program and the SINDA/G Thermal Analysis Program

A general purpose, one dimensional fluid flow code is currently being interfaced with the thermal analysis program SINDA/G. The flow code, GFSSP, is capable of analyzing steady state and transient flow in a complex network. The flow code is capable of modeling several physical phenomena including compressibility effects, phase changes, body forces (such as gravity and centrifugal) and mixture thermodynamics for multiple species. The addition of GFSSP to SINDA/G provides a significant improvement in convective heat transfer modeling for SINDA/G. The interface development is conducted in multiple phases. This paper describes the first phase of the interface which allows for steady and quasisteady (unsteady solid, steady fluid) conjugate heat transfer modeling.

Schallhorn, Paul↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of machine learning framework for interface force closures based on bubble tracking data

Interfacial force closures in the two-fluid model play a critical role for the predictive capabilities of void fraction distribution. However, the practices of interfacial force modeling have long been challenged by the inherent physical complexity of the two-phase flows. The rapidly expanding computational capabilities in the recent years have made high-fidelity data from the interface-captured direct numerical simulation become more available, and hence potential for data-driven interfacial force modeling has prevailed. In this work, we established a data-driven modeling framework integrated to the HZDR multiphase Eulerian-Eulerian framework for computational fluid dynamics simulations. The data-driven framework is verified in a benchmark problem, where a feedforward neural network managed to capture the non-linear mapping between bubble Reynolds number and drag coefficient and reproduce the void distribution resulting from the baseline model in the test case. The second focus is on utilizing the bubble tracking data set to form a closure for the bubble drag in the turbulent bubbly flow, in which the drag coefficient is set to be correlated with the bubble Reynolds number and the Eötvös number. Pseudo-steady state filtering in the Frenet Frame was carried out to obtain the drag coefficient from the turbulent bubbly flow data. The performance of the data-driven drag model is also examined through a case study, where improvement of model’s prediction near-wall is regarded necessary. In conclusion, discussion and further plans of investigation are provided.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2012

Spaceflight Effects and Molecular Responses in the Mouse Eye: Observations after NASA Shuttle Mission STS-133

Background: Human space exploration implies a combination of stressors including microgravityinduced cephalad fluid shift and radiation exposure. Ocular changes in astronauts leading to visual impairment are of occupational health relevance. The effect of this complex environment on ocular morphology and function is poorly understood. Material and Methods: Mice were assigned to a Flight (FLT) group flown on shuttle mission STS133, Animal Enclosure Module (AEM), or vivarium (VIV) ground controls. Eyes were collected at 1, 5 and 7 days after landing, and were fixed for histological sectioning. The contralateral eye was used for gene expression profiling by qRT-PCR. Routine histology and immunohistochemistry using 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), caspase-3, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and beta-amyloid were used to study the eyes. Results and Conclusions: 8-OHdG and caspase-3 immunoreactivity was increased in the retina in FLT samples at return from flight (R+1) compared to ground controls, and decreased at day 7 (R+7), suggesting an increase in oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. FLT mice showed evidence of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) apoptosis possibly secondary to oxidative damage. Although attenuation of RPE has been related to retinal choroidal folds in astronauts, it is yet to be determined whether or not increased RPE apoptosis may contribute to the formation of choroidal folds or may increase the risk for other retinal pathologies, such as AMD. beta-amyloid was seen in the nerve fibers at the post-laminar region of the optic nerve in the flight samples (R+7). Deposition of beta-amyloid has a strong correlation with mechanical trauma. The coexpression of GFAP in astrocytes and oligodentrocytes in these same areas supports the possible mechanical origin probably secondary to intracranial pressure that is transmitted into the nerve, as a result of an increase in venous pressure associated to microgravity-induced cephalic fluid shift. However, there is the need to further investigate the nature of the changes through additional experimental work. Gene expression of oxidative and cellular stress response genes was unregulated in the retina of FLT samples upon landing followed by lower levels by R+7. These results suggest that reversible molecular damage occurs in the retina of mice exposed to spaceflight and that protective cellular and molecular pathways are induced in the retina in response to these changes.

ProsperoPonce, Claudia Maria↗
DOE OSTI2016

Reynolds number effects on mixing due to topological chaos

Topological chaos has emerged as a powerful tool to investigate fluid mixing. While this theory can guarantee a lower bound on the stretching rate of certain material lines, it does not indicate what fraction of the fluid actually participates in this minimally mandated mixing. Indeed, the area in which effective mixing takes place depends on physical parameters such as the Reynolds number. To help clarify this dependency, we numerically simulate the effects of a batch stirring device on a 2D incompressible Newtonian fluid in the laminar regime. In particular, we calculate the finite time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) field for three different stirring protocols, one topologically complex (pseudo-Anosov) and two simple (finite-order), over a range of viscosities. After extracting appropriate measures indicative of both the amount of mixing and the area of effective mixing from the FTLE field, we see a clearly defined Reynolds number range in which the relative efficacy of the pseudo-Anosov protocol over the finite-order protocols justifies the application of topological chaos. More unexpectedly, we see that while the measures of effective mixing area increase with increasing Reynolds number for the finite-order protocols, they actually exhibit non-monotonic behavior for the pseudo-Anosov protocol.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS2017

Thermally-Conductive Metallic Coatings and Applications for Heat Removal on In-Space Cryogenic Vehicles

For large in-space cryogenic upper stages, substantial axial heat removal from a forward skirt by vapor-based heat interception may not be achieved by simple attachment methods unless sufficient thermal conductance from the skirt to the cooling fluid can be achieved. Preferable methods would allow for the addition of the cooling system to existing structure with minimal impact on the structure. Otherwise, significant modification to the basic structural design andor novel and complex attachment mechanisms with high effective thermal conductance are likely to be required. The approach being pursued by evolvable Cryogenics (eCryo) is to increase the thermal performance of a relatively simple attachment system by applying metallic or other thermally conductive material coatings to the mating surface area of the fluid channel where it is attached the skirt wall. The expectation of candidate materials is that the dramatic increase in conductivity of pure metals at temperatures close to liquid hydrogen vapor temperature will compensate for the reduced actual contact area typical of mechanical joints. Basic contact conductance data at low temperatures for candidate interface materials is required to enable the test approach. A test rig was designed at NASA Glenn Research Center to provide thermal contact resistance testing between small sample coupons coated with conductive material via electron beam evaporation, a low-temperature option that will not affect physical properties of base materials. Average coating thicknesses were 10 k. The test fixture was designed to mount directly to a cryocooler cold head within a vacuum test chamber. The purpose of this test was to determine qualitative contact conductance between various test samples. Results from this effort will be implemented in a sub-scale vapor-based heat interception test, where the applicability for increased heat removal on large structural skirts will be considered.

small scale testing↗
DOE OSTI2016

Device Scale Modeling of Solvent Absorption using MFIX-TFM

Recent climate change is largely attributed to greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane) and fossil fuels account for a large majority of global CO 2 emissions. That said, fossil fuels will continue to play a significant role in the generation of power for the foreseeable future. The extent to which CO 2 is emitted needs to be reduced, however, carbon capture and sequestration are also necessary actions to tackle climate change. Different approaches exist for CO 2 capture including both post-combustion and pre-combustion technologies, oxy-fuel combustion and/or chemical looping combustion. The focus of this effort is on post-combustion solvent-absorption technology. To apply CO 2 technologies at commercial scale, the availability and maturity and the potential for scalability of that technology need to be considered. Solvent absorption is a proven technology but not at the scale needed by typical power plant. The scale up and down and design of laboratory and commercial packed bed reactors depends heavily on the specific knowledge of two-phase pressure drop, liquid holdup, the wetting efficiency and mass transfer efficiency as a function of operating conditions. Simple scaling rules often fail to provide proper design. Conventional reactor design modeling approaches will generally characterize complex non-ideal flow and mixing patterns using simplified and/or mechanistic flow assumptions. While there are varying levels of complexity used within these approaches, none of these models resolve the local velocity fields. Consequently, they are unable to account for important design factors such as flow maldistribution and channeling from a fundamental perspective. Ideally design would be aided by development of predictive models based on truer representation of the physical and chemical processes that occur at different scales. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models are based on multidimensional flow equations with first principle foundations. CFD models can include a more accurate physical description of flow processes and be modified to include more complex behavior. Wetting performance and spatial liquid distribution inside the absorber are recognized as weak areas of knowledge requiring further investigation. CFD tools offer a possible method to investigating such topics and gaining a better understanding of their influence on reactor performance. This report focuses first on describing a hydrodynamic model for countercurrent gas-liquid flow through a packed column and then on the chemistry, heat and mass transfer specific to CO 2 absorption using monoethanolamine (MEA). The indicated model is implemented in MFIX, a CFD open source software package. The user defined functions needed to build this model are described in detail along with the keywords for the corresponding input file. A test case is outlined along with a few results. The example serves to briefly illustrate the developed CFD tool and its potential capability to investigate solvent absorption.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2010

Coupled computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer analysis of the VHTR lower plenum.

The very high temperature reactor (VHTR) concept is being developed by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and other groups around the world for the future generation of electricity at high thermal efficiency (> 48%) and co-generation of hydrogen and process heat. This Generation-IV reactor would operate at elevated exit temperatures of 1,000-1,273 K, and the fueled core would be cooled by forced convection helium gas. For the prismatic-core VHTR, which is the focus of this analysis, the velocity of the hot helium flow exiting the core into the lower plenum (LP) could be 35-70 m/s. The impingement of the resulting gas jets onto the adiabatic plate at the bottom of the LP could develop hot spots and thermal stratification and inadequate mixing of the gas exiting the vessel to the turbo-machinery for energy conversion. The complex flow field in the LP is further complicated by the presence of large cylindrical graphite posts that support the massive core and inner and outer graphite reflectors. Because there are approximately 276 channels in the VHTR core from which helium exits into the LP and a total of 155 support posts, the flow field in the LP includes cross flow, multiple jet flow interaction, flow stagnation zones, vortex interaction, vortex shedding, entrainment, large variation in Reynolds number (Re), recirculation, and mixing enhancement and suppression regions. For such a complex flow field, experimental results at operating conditions are not currently available. Instead, the objective of this paper is to numerically simulate the flow field in the LP of a prismatic core VHTR using the Sandia National Laboratories Fuego, which is a 3D, massively parallel generalized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code with numerous turbulence and buoyancy models and simulation capabilities for complex gas flow fields, with and without thermal effects. The code predictions for simpler flow fields of single and swirling gas jets, with and without a cross flow, are validated using reported experimental data and theory. The key processes in the LP are identified using phenomena identification and ranking table (PIRT). It may be argued that a CFD code that accurately simulates simplified, single-effect flow fields with increasing complexity is likely to adequately model the complex flow field in the VHTR LP, subject to a future experimental validation. The PIRT process and spatial and temporal discretizations implemented in the present analysis using Fuego established confidence in the validation and verification (V and V) calculations and in the conclusions reached based on the simulation results. The performed calculations included the helicoid vortex swirl model, the dynamic Smagorinsky large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence model, participating media radiation (PMR), and 1D conjugate heat transfer (CHT). The full-scale, half-symmetry LP mesh used in the LP simulation included unstructured hexahedral elements and accounted for the graphite posts, the helium jets, the exterior walls, and the bottom plate with an adiabatic outer surface. Results indicated significant enhancements in heat transfer, flow mixing, and entrainment in the VHTR LP when using swirling inserts at the exit of the helium flow channels into the LP. The impact of using various swirl angles on the flow mixing and heat transfer in the LP is qualified, including the formation of the central recirculation zone (CRZ), and the effect of LP height. Results also showed that in addition to the enhanced mixing, the swirling inserts result in negligible additional pressure losses and are likely to eliminate the formation of hot spots.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS2015

Mini-Stamp as a Micro-Display for At-A-Glance Subsystem Information for DSN Links

Operators of the Deep Space Network (DSN) attend to numerous tasks with the overall goal of providing continuous support for the world's deep space missions. This high-stakes operations environment requires operators to understand the state of the Deep Space Network and predict what will happen next. Under the Follow-the-Sun initiative which requires remote operations of the highly complex telecommunications equipment, operators will need to remain aware of the state of the entire network rather than just their own facility, and transitioning fluidly between periods of low activity and periods of high demand. I designed a micro-display for operators to see, at a glance, the state of a Deep Space Network support including its subsystems. Using in-depth user-centered and participatory design techniques to identify information requirements, I designed what I called a Postage Stamp (NTR-49720) for individual operators to be able to maintain awareness of their own assigned supports. However, under Follow the Sun, operators must remain aware of all supports. The area occupied by the Postage Stamp must shrink to allow operators to see the state of the entire system, e.g., via a Big Board posted prominently in the operations room. Micro-displays are tools for mental model re-alignment, helping operators to keep their mental models of how the system works and behaves aligned with the changing state of the complex system. Data-driven micro-displays such as the Postage Stamp and Mini-Stamp display information about the system in a consistent way. Like a traffic light, the format of the micro-display never changes: the operator always knows where to look to find a specific piece of information. The Mini-Stamp always looks like the Mini-Stamp, and all of its data fields always lie in the same place on the micro-display. Real-time data flows through the Mini-Stamp to provide information to the operator.

Holloway, Alexandra↗
NASA NTRS1990

Absence of first-order unbinding transitions of fluid and polymerized membranes

Unbinding transitions of fluid and polymerized membranes are studied by renormalization-group (RG) methods. Two different RG schemes are used and found to give rather consistent results. The fixed-point structure of both RG's exhibits a complex behavior as a function of the decay exponent tau for the fluctuation-induced interaction of the membranes. For tau greater than tau(S2) interacting membranes can undergo first-order transitions even in the strong-fluctuation regime. These estimates for tau(S2) imply, however, that both fluid and polymerized membranes unbind in a continuous way in the absence of lateral tension.

Grotehans, Stefan↗
NASA NTRS2002

An Experimental Investigation of Incompressible Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability

Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) instability occurs when two different density fluids are impulsively accelerated in the direction normal to their nearly planar interface. The instability causes small perturbations on the interface to grow and eventually become a turbulent flow. It is closely related to Rayleigh-Taylor instability, which is the instability of a planar interface undergoing constant acceleration, such as caused by the suspension of a heavy fluid over a lighter one in the earth's gravitational field. Like the well-known Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, RM instability is a fundamental hydrodynamic instability which exhibits many of the nonlinear complexities that transform simple initial conditions into a complex turbulent flow. Furthermore, the simplicity of RM instability (in that it requires very few defining parameters), and the fact that it can be generated in a closed container, makes it an excellent test bed to study nonlinear stability theory as well as turbulent transport in a heterogeneous system. However, the fact that RM instability involves fluids of unequal densities which experience negligible gravitational force, except during the impulsive acceleration, requires RM instability experiments to be carried out under conditions of microgravity. This experimental study investigates the instability of an interface between incompressible, miscible liquids with an initial sinusoidal perturbation. The impulsive acceleration is generated by bouncing a rectangular tank containing two different density liquids off a retractable vertical spring. The initial perturbation is produced prior to release by oscillating the tank in the horizontal direction to produce a standing wave. The instability evolves in microgravity as the tank travels up and then down the vertical rails of a drop tower until hitting a shock absorber at the bottom. Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) is employed to visualize the flow. PLIF images are captured by a video camera that travels with the tank. Figure 1 is as sequence of images showing the development of the instability from the initial sinusoidal disturbance far into the nonlinear regime which is characterized by the appearance of mushroom structures resulting from the coalescence of baroclinic vorticity produced by the impulsive acceleration. At later times in this sequence the vortex cores are observed to become unstable showing the beginnings of the transition to turbulence in this flow. The amplitude of the growing disturbance after the impulsive acceleration is measured and found to agree well with theoretical predictions. The effects of Reynolds number (based on circulation) on the development of the vortices and the transition to turbulence are also determined.

Jacobs, J. W.↗