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At least 19 records

Wear and interfacial transport of material

The paper is a review of adhesion or bonding across an interface between two solids in contact, transfer or transport to one or both surfaces, wear with tangential motion, and the effect of surface films on adhesion, transfer, and wear. The discussion is limited to the case of adhesive wear which deals with the interfacial transport of material from one surface to another. The data presented suggest that the resulting interfacial adhesive bond for metals in contact is generally stronger than the cohesive bond in the cohesively weaker of the two materials so that upon separation of the surfaces transfer will occur from the cohesively weaker material to the cohesively stronger; that with tangential motion of two metal surfaces in contact such as encountered with sliding, rolling, or rubbing contact, the frictional energy can be dissipated in a number of ways, where heating of the surfaces can produce metallurgical changes such as alloying; and that the presence of adsorbed and reacted films on the surface of metals and alloys even in frictions of a monolayer can reduce interfacial bonding, adhesion, and transfer.

Buckley, D. H.↗

Wear and interfacial transport of material

Bonding across the interface for two solids in contact and the subsequent transfer of material from one surface to another is a direct result of the interfacial bonds being stronger than the cohesive bonds in either of the two solids. Surface tools such as LEED, Auger emission spectroscopy, field ion microscopy, and the atom probe are used to examine adhesive contacts and to determine the direction, nature, quantity of material transfer and properties of the solids which effect transfer and wear. The electronic nature, cohesive binding energies, surface structure, lattice disregistry and distribution of species in surface layers are all found to effect adhesion and transfer or transport for clean surfaces in solid state contact. The influence of adsorbed and reacted surface films from fractions of a monolayer to multilayer reactive films are considered. It is shown that even fractions of a monolayer of surface active species such as oxygen and sulfur can markedly inhibit adhesion and transport.

Buckley, D. H.↗

Two-Fluid Models and Interfacial Area Transport in Microgravity Condition

The objective of the present study is to develop a two-fluid model formulation with interfacial area transport equation applicable for microgravity conditions. The new model is expected to make a leapfrog improvement by furnishing the constitutive relations for the interfacial interaction terms with the interfacial area transport equation, which can dynamically model the changes of the interfacial structures. In the first year of this three-year project supported by the U.S. NASA, Office of Biological and Physics Research, the primary focus is to design and construct a ground-based, microgravity two-phase flow simulation facility, in which two immiscible fluids with close density will be used. In predicting the two-phase flow behaviors in any two-phase flow system, the interfacial transfer terms are among the most essential factors in the modeling. These interfacial transfer terms in a two-fluid model specify the rate of phase change, momentum exchange, and energy transfer at the interface between the two phases. For the two-phase flow under the microgravity condition, the stability of the fluid particle interface and the interfacial structures are quite different from those under normal gravity condition. The flow structure may not reach an equilibrium condition and the two fluids may be loosely coupled such that the inertia terms of each fluid should be considered separately by use of the two-fluid model. Previous studies indicated that, unless phase-interaction terms are accurately modeled in the two-fluid model, the complex modeling does not necessarily warrant an accurate solution.

Ishii, Mamoru↗

Thermal /Soret/ diffusion effects on interfacial mass transport rates

It is shown that thermal (Soret) diffusion significantly alters convective mass transport rates and important transition temperatures in highly nonisothermal flow systems involving the transport of 'heavy' species (vapors or particles). Introduction of the Soret transport term is shown to result in mass transfer effects similar to those of 'suction' and a homogeneous chemical 'sink'. It is pointed out that this analogy provides a simple method of correlating and predicting thermal diffusion effects in the abovementioned systems.

Rosner, D. E.↗

Protein Crystal Growth Under Forced Solution Flow: Experimental Setup and General Response of Lysozyme

We have experimentally studied the effects of solution flow on the growth kinetics of the protein lysozyme. To this end, we have expanded our interferometry setup by a novel crystallization cell and solution recirculation system. This combination permits monitoring of interface morphology and kinetics with a depth resolution of 200 A at bulk flow rates of up to 2000 micron/s. Particular attention was paid to the prevention of protein denaturation that is often associated with the pumping of protein solutions. We found that at bulk flow rates it less than 250 microns/s the average growth rate and step velocity, R(sub avg) and upsilon(sub avg) increase with increasing it. This can be quantitatively understood in terms of the enhanced, convective solute supply to the interface. With high-purity solutions, it u greater than 250 microns/s lead to growth deceleration, and, at low supersaturations sigma, to growth cessation. When solutions containing approx. 1% of other protein impurities were used, growth deceleration occurred at any u greater than 0 and cessation in the low sigma experiments was reached at about half the it causing cessation with pure solution. The flow-induced changes in R(sub avg) and upsilon(sub avg) including growth cessation, were reversible and reproducible, independent of the direction of the u-changes and solution purity. Hence, we attribute the deceleration to the convection-enhanced supply of impurities to the interface, which at higher flow rates overpowers the effects of enhanced interfacial solute concentration. Most importantly, we found that convective transport leads to a significant reduction in kinetics fluctuations, in agreement with our earlier expectations for the lysozyme system. This supports our hypothesis that these long-term fluctuations represent an intrinsic response feature of the coupled bulk transport-interfacial kinetics system in the mixed growth control regime.

Vekilov, P. G.↗

A Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) Technique for the Measurement of Solute Transport Across Surfactant-Laden Interfaces

The technique of Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) has been applied to the measurement of interfacial transport in two-phase systems. FRAP exploits the loss of fluorescence exhibited by certain fluorophores when over-stimulated (photobleached), so that a two-phase system, originally at equilibrium, can be perturbed without disturbing the interface by strong light from an argon-ion laser and its recovery monitored by a microscope-mounted CCD camera as it relaxes to a new equilibrium. During this relaxation, the concentration profiles of the probe solute are measured on both sides of the interface as a function of time, yielding information about the transport characteristics of the system. To minimize the size of the meniscus between the two phases, a photolithography technique is used to selectively treat the glass walls of the cell in which the phases are contained. This allows concentration measurements to be made very close to the interface and increases the sensitivity of the FRAP technique.

Browne, Edward P.↗

Measurement of resistance to solute transport across surfactant-laden interfaces using a Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) technique

A noninvasive fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) technique is under development to measure interfacial transport in two phase systems without disturbing the interface. The concentration profiles of a probe solute are measured in both sides of the interface by argon-ion laser, and the system relaxation is then monitored by a microscope-mounted CCD camera.

Browne, Edward P.↗

The metal to metal interface and its effect on adhesion and friction

The paper considers the interface between two bulk metals and the effect of this interface on adhesive bonding, resistance to tangential displacements, friction and the interfacial transport from one surface to another. Using Auger emission spectroscopy, field ion microscopy, and low energy electron diffraction techniques, the influence of surface orientation, lattice registry, crystal lattice structure and defects, metal surface chemistry and alloying on the characteristics of the interface was studied for noble, platinum, transition, and Group 4B metals. With dissimilar metals in contact, epitaxial transfer of the cohesively weaker to the cohesively stronger metal has been observed. Surface chemical activity of the noble and platinum metals is shown to affect interfacial behavior as does a valence bonding in the transition metals, and the degree of metallic nature in the Group 4B elements. Alloying elements, e.g., Si and Fe, can alter interfacial behavior by segregation to the surface of metals or by altering bulk properties such as crystal transformation kinetics.

Buckley, D. H.↗

Review of critical flow rate, propagation of pressure pulse, and sonic velocity in two-phase media

For single-phase media, the critical discharge velocity, the sonic velocity, and the pressure pulse propagation velocity can be expressed in the same form by assuming isentropic, equilibria processes. In two-phase mixtures, the same concept is not valid due to the existence of interfacial transports of momentum, heat, and mass. Thus, the three velocities should be treated differently and separately for each particular condition, taking into account the various transport processes involved under that condition. Various attempts are reviewed to predict the critical discharge rate or the propagation velocities by considering slip ratio (momentum change), evaporation (mass and heat transport), flow pattern, etc. Experimental data were compared with predictions based on various theorems. The importance is stressed of the time required to achieve equilibrium as compared with the time available during the process, for example, of passing a pressure pulse.

Hsu, Y.↗

Pressurization and expulsion of a flightweight liquid hydrogen tank

Experimental results are presented for pressurization and expulsion of a flightweight 4.89 cu m liquid hydrogen storage tank under normal gravity conditions. Pressurization and expulsion times were parametrically varied to study the effects of longer transfer times expected in future space flight applications. It was found that the increase in pressurant consumption with increased operational time is significant at shorter pressurization or expulsion durations and diminishes as the duration lengthens. Gas-to-wall heat transfer in the ullage was the dominant mode of energy exchange, with more than 50 percent of the pressurant energy being lost to tank wall heating in expulsions and the long duration pressurizations. Advanced data analysis will require a multidimensional approach combined with improved measurement capabilities of liquid-vapor interfacial transport phenomena.

Van Dresar, N. T.↗

Pressurization and expulsion of a flightweight liquid hydrogen tank

Experimental results are presented for pressurization and expulsion of a flight-weight 4.89 cu m liquid hydrogen storage tank under normal gravity conditions. Pressurization and expulsion times are parametrically varied to study the effects of longer transfer times expected in future space flight applications. It is found that the increase in pressurant consumption with increased operational time is significant at shorter pressurization or expulsion durations and diminishes as the duration lengthens. Gas-to-wall heat transfer in the ullage is the dominant mode of energy exchange, with more than 50 percent of the pressurant energy being lost to tank wall heating in expulsions and the long duration pressurizations. Advanced data analysis will require a multidimensional approach combined with improved measurement capabilities of liquid-vapor interfacial transport phenomena.

Vandresar, N. T.↗

Kinetics and transport at AMTEC electrodes. I - The interfacial impedance model

Mixed mass-transport and kinetic control of sodium ion reduction at porous inert electrodes on sodium beta-double-prime alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) ceramic in a high-temperature electrochemical cell has been observed and modeled. The high ionic conductivity of BASE and the reversibility of the liquid sodium/BASE anodic half-cell led to assignment of potential-dependent (nonohmic) resistances to kinetic and mass-transport processes associated with the porous electrode. The morphology of these electrodes and typical sodium gas pressures are consistent with Knudsen, or free-molecular, flow through the electrode.

Williams, R. M.↗

A Rationale for System-Dependent Advantages and Disadvantages of Solution Crystal Growth at Low Gravity

Protein crystallization experiments at reduced gravity have yielded crystals that, depending on the specific material, are either superior or inferior in their structural perfection compared to counterparts grown at normal gravity. A reduction of the crystals' quality due to their growth at low gravity cannot be understood from existing models. Our experimental investigations of the ground-based crystallization of the protein lysozyme have revealed pronounced unsteady growth layer dynamics and associated defect formation under steady external conditions. Through scaling analysis and numerical simulations we show that the observed fluctuations originate from the coupling of bulk transport with non-linear interface kinetics under mixed kinetics-transport control of the growth rate. The amplitude of the fluctuations is smallest when either transport or interfacial kinetics dominate the control of the crystallization process. Thus, depending on the specific system, crystal quality may be improved by either enhancing or suppressing the transport in the solution. These considerations provide, for the first time, a material-dependent rationale for the advantages, as well as the disadvantages, of reduced gravity for (protein) crystallization.

Rosenberger, Franz↗

Composite Solid Electrolyte for Li Battery Applications

The electrochemical, bulk and interfacial properties of the polyethylene oxide (PEO) based composite solid electrolyte (CSE) comprising LiI, PEO, and Al2O3 have been evaluated for Li battery applications. The bulk interfacial and transport properties of the CSEs seem to strongly depend on the alumina particle size. For the CSE films with 0.05 micron alumina while the bulk conductivity is around 10(exp -4) (mho/cm) at 103 C, the Li ion transport number seems to be close to unity at the same temperature. Compared to the PEO electrolyte this polymer composite electrolyte seems to exhibit robust mechanical and interfacial properties. We have studied three different films with three different alumina sizes in the range 0.01-0.3 micron. Effects of Al2O3 particle size on the electrochemical performance of polymer composite electrolyte is discussed. With TiS2 as cathode a 10 mAh small capacity cell was charged and discharged at C/40 and C/20 rates respectively.

Nagasubramanian, G.↗

Development of a One-Domain Volume-Averaged Navier–Stokes Solver

The interaction between a high-enthalpy flow and a thermal protection material is inherently multiscale and multiphysics. In conventional aerothermal analyses, the external flow and material response are generally modeled using separate computational domains coupled through boundary conditions at the material surface. Although this approach has supported many practical applications, it requires assumptions about the location and behavior of the interface and may become difficult to apply when material decomposition, internal reactions, and surface recession substantially alter the porous structure. This report presents the development of a one-domain formulation in which the free-fluid and porous-material regions are represented within a single computational domain. The formulation is based on the volume-averaged Navier–Stokes (VANS) equations, derived from the governing equations for reacting, compressible flow and condensed material. Volume averaging transfers the influence of the unresolved material microstructure to the macroscale equations through effective transport properties, interfacial source terms, and dispersion fluxes. Particular attention is given to regions in which porosity and permeability vary rapidly, including the diffuse transition between a porous material and the surrounding fluid. The resulting equations are implemented in the Porous-material Analysis Toolbox based on OpenFOAM (PATO). The report describes the pressure–velocity coupling strategy used by the solver, examines spatial filtering techniques for deriving effective properties, and evaluates the influence of a smoothly varying interface permeability. Numerical demonstrations include canonical porous-flow configurations, a flow-tube configuration representative of FiberForm® permeability experiments, and the oxidation of a porous carbon material. The purpose of this work is to establish a mathematical and computational foundation for a unified treatment of flow and thermal protection material response. The present formulation is intended to support the progressive inclusion of additional physical processes, including multicomponent transport, finite-rate gas–surface chemistry, pyrolysis, internal oxidation, and material recession. It also provides a framework for connecting pore-scale simulations and microstructural characterization with macroscale aerothermal-response calculations. This report is intended for researchers and engineers working in computational fluid dynamics, porous-media transport, material response, and thermal protection system modeling. It documents both the theoretical development and the initial numerical assessment of the one-domain approach, while identifying the closure of effective and dispersion terms as an important subject for continued investigation.

Ablation↗

Protein crystal growth - Growth kinetics for tetragonal lysozyme crystals

Results are reported from theoretical and experimental studies of the growth rate of lysozyme as a function of diffusion in earth-gravity conditions. The investigations were carried out to form a comparison database for future studies of protein crystal growth in the microgravity environment of space. A diffusion-convection model is presented for predicting crystal growth rates in the presence of solutal concentration gradients. Techniques used to grow and monitor the growth of hen egg white lysozyme are detailed. The model calculations and experiment data are employed to discuss the effects of transport and interfacial kinetics in the growth of the crystals, which gradually diminished the free energy in the growth solution. Density gradient-driven convection, caused by presence of the gravity field, was a limiting factor in the growth rate.

Pusey, M. L.↗

Materials science on parabolic aircraft: The FY 1987-1989 KC-135 microgravity test program

This document covers research results from the KC-135 Materials Science Program managed by MSFC for the period FY87 through FY89. It follows the previous NASA Technical Memorandum for FY84-86 published in August 1988. This volume contains over 30 reports grouped into eight subject areas covering acceleration levels, space flight hardware, transport and interfacial studies, thermodynamics, containerless processing, welding, melt/crucible interactions, and directional solidification. The KC-135 materials science experiments during FY87-89 accomplished direct science, preparation for space flight experiments, and justification for new experiments in orbit.

Curreri, Peter A.↗