Flow in a torsionally oscillating filled cylinder

The flow of a liquid in a completely filled cylinder undergoing torsional oscillations about its longitudinal symmetry axis was studied analytically and experimentally. The objective of the studies was to determine the efficacy of the torsional oscillations in mixing the confined liquid. Flow was found to be confined primarily to toroidal cells at the ends of the cylinder. Cell thickness was about equal to the cylinder radius. The use of baffles at the end walls was shown to enhance the mixing process

Mixing of two liquid metals on spar payload due to spin-up and spin-down

Unexpected results from SPAR experiments, directed at obtaining fine dispersions of metal systems that in a 1-g environment tend to segregate very rapidly, were considered. The physical processes occurring in fluid samples, such as the SPAR samples before solidification, were shown to be insufficient to produce a well mixed liquid by the time solidification was initiated. This would result in solidified samples with the type of segregation noted in the SPAR samples. Experimental evidence and analytical arguments are presented

A technique to correct for sample thickness variations for use with IDAPS X-ray radiograph analysis

The Image Data Processing System (IDAPS) at the Marshall Space Flight Center is used to analyze radiographs of metal samples to qualitatively and quantitatively map compositional variations across the samples. When the X-ray radiographs are of samples having thickness variations, corrections must be made to accomplish compositional analysis. A correction technique is described for cylindrical samples and is applied to radiographs of SPAR Experiment 74-18. Uncorrected and corrected images are shown

Antiferromagnetic interactions in single crystalline Zn1-xCoxO thin films

In a rather contradictory situation regarding magnetic data on Co-doped ZnO, we have succeeded in fabricating high-quality single crystalline Zn1-xCoxO (x=0.003-0.07) thin films. This gives us the possibility, for the first time, to examine the it intrinsic magnetic properties of ZnO:Co at a quantitative level and therefore to address several unsolved problems, the major one being the nature of the Co-Co interaction in the ZnO structure.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures,accepted for publication in PR

Mechanics of liquid helium in a partially filled rotating dewar in low gravity with application to Gravity Probe-B

The Gravity Probe-B spacecraft is composed largely of a liquid helium dewar containing an experiment package. It is shown that an unsymmetric liquid helium distribution in the dewar can cause unacceptably high forces, gravitational and gravity gradient forces, at the experiment location. It is further shown that for the planned spacecraft configuration and operational parameters, it is very likely that the liquid helium distribution in the dewar will be unsymmetric. The required symmetry can be attained by using higher operational spacecraft rotation rates

Fluid surface behavior in low gravity. Center discretionary fund no. 83-21

Measurements of rotating equilibrium bubble shapes in the low-gravity environment of a free-falling aircraft are presented. Emphasis is placed on bubbles which intersect the container boundaries. These data are compared with theoretical profiles derived from Laplace's formula and are in good agreement with the measurements. Two types of instability are explored. The first occurs when the baffle spacing is too large for the bubble to intersect both the top and bottom boundaries. The second occurs when the hydrostatic pressure beneath a displaced free surface does not compensate for pressure change due to capillary forces. The interface shape depends on the contact angle, the radius of intersection with container, and the parameter F which is a measure of the relative importance of centrifugal force to surface tension. For isolated bubbles, F has a maximum value of 1/2. A further increase in F causes the bubble to break contact with the axis of rotation. For large values of F, the bubble becomes more cylindrical and the capillary rise occurs over a thinner layer so that the small radius of curvature can generate enough pressure drop to balance the increased hydrostatic contribution

Analysis of SPAR 8 single-axis levitation experiment

The melting and resolidification of SPAR 8 payload melting and resolidification of a glass specimen from the in a containerless condition and the retrieval and examination of the specimen from the. The absence of container contact was assured by use of a single-axis acoustic levitation system. However, the sample contacted a wire cage after being held without container contact by the acoustic field for only approximately 87 seconds. At this time, the sample was still molten and, therefore, flowed aroung the wire and continued to adhere to it. An analysis of why the sample did not remain levitated free of container contact is presented. The experiment is described, and experimental observations are discussed and analyzed

Progress in compilation of the 1:2,000,000-scale topographic map

The application of special photogrammetric techniques has enabled the systematic mapping of Mars' topography at a scale of 1:2,000,000, using high-altitude Viking Orbiter pictures. In fiscal 86, compilation was completed of the 24 subquadrangles that make up the quadrangles MC-12, MC-13, MC-14, MC-15, MC-20, and MC-21. This work completes compilation of the 60 topographic maps covering the equatorial belt (lat. + or - 30 deg). The remaining 80 subquadrangles of Mars are planned to be completed within 3 years (27, 27 and 26 subquadrangles, in fiscal 87, 88, and 89, respectively). Elevations on all topographic maps are relative to the Mars topographic datum. The maps have a contour interval of 1 km and a precision of + or - 1 km. The equatorial-belt maps are Mercator projections having true scale at lat. + or - 27.476 deg. These maps provide more precise information than do those previously available and they will help in understanding the geologic processes that have shaped the Martian surface