Algebraic turbulent energy flux models for hypersonic shear flows

Algebraic truncation models were derived for the turbulent energy flux for high-speed shear flows with and without thermal and mechanical non-equilibrium effects. To facilitate closure, fluctuating dilatation moments were modeled via conservation of mass truncations and the inhomogeneous terms were neglected. The resulting energy flux model provided significant improvements, up to 20%, in the temperature predictions over the gradient diffusion model for equilibrium flows over a Mach number range of 0.02–11.8. Our experiments showed that vibrational relaxation significantly altered the basic decay rate of grid turbulence. Also, our models indicated that compressibility introduces an explicit pressure gradient dependency. Analyses of a governing parameter indicated that these terms are negligibly small for low speeds, but may be important, or even dominant, for high-speed flows.     

Introduction

Space Science Reviews -     

Cometary particle impact simulation using pulsed lasers

Calibration of the DIDSY experiment momentum sensors for the GIOTTO Mission to Comet Halley requires laboratory simulation of impacts at 68 km s⁻¹ for particle mass values in the range 10⁻⁶ g to 10⁻¹⁰ g. Existing techniques for particle acceleration cannot simultaneously attain these extreme values of velocity and particle mass, making it necessary to adopt some less direct method of impact simulation. This paper considers the application of high power pulsed lasers for laboratory simulation of the momentum impulse produced by a cometary dust particle impact on the GIOTTO spacecraft.     

High performance satellite networks

The high performance satellite communications networks of the future will have to be interoperable with terrestrial fiber cables. These satellite networks will evolve from narrowband analogue formats to broadband digital transmission schemes, with protocols, algorithms and transmission architectures that will segment the data into uniform cells and frames, and then transmit these data via larger and more efficient synchronous optional (SONET) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks that are being developed for the information “superhighway”. These high performance satellite communications and information networks are required for modern applications, such as electronic commerce, digital libraries, medical imaging, distance learning, and the distribution of science data.

In order for satellites to participate in these information superhighway networks, it is essential that they demonstrate their ability to: (1) operate seamlessly with heterogeneous architectures and applications, (2) carry data at SONET rates with the same quality of service as optical fibers, (3) qualify transmission delay as a parameter not a problem, and (4) show that satellites have several performance and economic advantages over fiber cable networks.     

William B. Latter,Simon J.E. Radford,Philip R. Jewel,Jeffrey G. Mangum,and John Bally (eds.) CO: Twenty-Five Years of Millimeter-Wave Spectroscopy,Proceedings of IAU Symposium No. 170

Space Science Reviews -