R. J. Hung

Bubble behaviors in a slowly rotating helium dewar in a Gravity Probe-B spacecraft experiment

Potential problems for the Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) spacecraft design requirements and the operational considerations could arise because of the free surface configurations between liquid helium and helium vapor in the rotating dewar. This free surface is present in the partially filled liquid helium dewar. The liquid helium in the dewar is depleted as it is consumed as propellant for the spacecraft. In this study, the doughnut-shaped helium bubble equilibrium profiles in the rotating dewar have been numerically calculated. These calculations were performed under the conditions imposed during the period of the GP-B experiment instrument calibration (gyro spinup period) and also during the normal operational stages of the GP-B spacecraft.

Axisymmetric Bubble Profiles in a Slowly Rotating Helium Dewar Under Low and Microgravity Environments

Abstract The Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) Spacecraft is designed to test the General Theory of Relativity through long-term monitoring the precession of a set of gyros in free-fall around the Earth. The potential problems for GP-B Spacecraft design requirements could be due to asymmetry in the static liquid helium distribution, or to perturbations in free surface which is present in the partially-filled liquid helium dewar. In this study, doughnut-shaped helium bubble equilibrium profiles in rotating dewar, under the conditions during the period of GP-B experiment instrument calibration and also during the period of normal operation stages of GP-B Spacecraft, have been numerically calculated. For academic interest, the range of coverage has been extended beyond the conditions assigned by the GP-B Spacecraft experiment.

Space-based cryogenic liquid hydrogen reorientation activated by low frequency impulsive reverse thruster of geyser initiation

Abstract The requirement to settle or to position liquid fluid over the outlet end of spacecraft propellant tank prior to main engine restart poses a microgravity fluid behavior problem. Resettlement or reorientation of liquid propellant can be accomplished by providing optimal acceleration to the spacecraft such that the propellant is reoriented over the tank outlet without any vapor entrainment, any excessive geysering, or any other undesirable fluid motion for the space fluid management under microgravity environment. The purpose of the present study is to investigate most efficient technique for propellant resettling through the minimization of propellant usage and weight penalties. Comparison between the constant reverse gravity acceleration and impulsive reverse gravity acceleration to be used for the activation of propellant resettlement, shows that impulsive reverse gravity thrust is superior to constant reverse gravity thrust for liquid reorientation in a reduced gravity environment.

Effect of g-jitters on the stability of rotating bubble under microgravity environment☆

The instability of liquid and gas interface can be induced by the pressure of longitudinal and lateral accelerations, vehicle vibration, and rotational fields of spacecraft in a microgravity environment. Characteristics of slosh waves excited by the restoring force field of gravity jitters have been investigated. Results show that lower frequency gravity jitters excite slosh waves with higher ratio of maximum amplitude to wave length than that of the slosh waves generated by the higher frequency gravity jitters.

Reorientation of Rotating Fluid in Microgravity Environment With and Without Gravity Jitters

In a spacecraft design, the requirements of settled propellant are different for tank pressurization, engine restart, venting, or propellant transfer. The requirement to settle or to position liquid fuel over the outlet end of the spacecraft propellant tank prior main engine restart poses a microgravity fluid behavior problem. In this paper, the dynamical behavior of liquid propellant, fluid reorientation, and propellant resettling have been carried out through the execution of supercomputer CRAY X-MP to simulate the fluid management in a microgravity environment. Results show that the resettlement of fluid can be accomplished more efficiently for fluid in rotating tank than in nonrotating tank, and also better performance for gravity jitters imposed on fluid settlement than without gravity jitters based on the amount of time needed to carry out resettlement period of time between the initiation and termination of geysering.

Liquid hydrogen slosh waves excited by constant reverse gravity acceleration of geyser initiation

A key objective of the cryogenic fluid management of the spacecraft propulsion system is to develop the technology necessary for acquisition or positioning of liquid and vapor within a tank in reduced gravity to enable liquid outflow or vapor venting. The requirement to settle or to position liquid fuel over the outlet end of the spacecraft propellant tank before main engine restart poses a microgravity fluid behavior problem. Resettlement or reorientation of liquid propellant can be accomplished by providing the optimal acceleration to the spacecraft such that the propellant is reoriented over the tank outlet. In this study slosh wave excitation induced by the resettling flowfield during the course of liquid reorientation with the initiation of geyser for liquid-filled levels of 30, 50,65,70, and 80970 have been studied. Characteristics of slosh waves with various frequencies excited are discussed. Slosh wave excitations will affect the fluid stress distribution exerted on the container wall and shift the fluid mass distribution inside the container, which imposes the time-dependent variations in the moment of inertia of the container. This information is important for the spacecraft control during the course of liquid reorientation.

Observations on Thermospheric and Mesospheric Density Disturbances Caused by Typhoons and Convective Storms

The vhf radar and hf Doppler sounder located at the subtropical and low-latitude observing site of Taiwan has been used to observe atmospheric parameters from the troposphere, to the middle atmosphere, and then to the thermosphere, during the time passage of typhoons and tropical storms. For observations at mesospheric heights, time-dependent wind velocities with three-dimensional profiles are deduced from the Doppler spectra of vhf radar returns, whereas gravity waves are detected in the backscattered power, radial velocities, and Doppler spectral width. For observations at thermospheric heights, time-dependent phase-path change of hf radio waves reflected from ionospheric heights is used to measure Doppler frequency variation of gravity-wave parameters. Propagation characteristics of the gravity waves excited by the enhanced convective motions of typhoons and tropical storms were detected from the Fourier power spectrum analysis of the three-dimensional wind velocities from the radial velocities of multiple beams of the vhf radar and the phase-path variations of Doppler sounding of hf radio waves reflected from the ionosphere, together with their cross-correlation analysis. The density perturbations caused by the propagation of the gravity waves due to typhoons and tropical storms were calculated from both the vhf radar and hf Doppler sounder observations. These short-term middle atmospheric and thermospheric density changes are key elements needed for space vehicle design purposes. Projects such as the Space Shuttle, Shuttle II, Shuttle C, Tethered Satellite, Bubble Space Telescope, Aerobraking Orbital Transfer Vehicle, and Aeroassisted Flight Experiment will benefit from such studies.

Surface tension and bubble shapes in a partially filled rotating cylinder under low gravity

A computer algorithm is developed to simulate the profile of a free liquid surface for a cylindrical container partially filled with a Newtonian fluid of constant density, rotating about its axis of symmetry. The equilibrium shape of the free surface is governed by a balance of capillary, centrifugal, and gravity forces. The results can be used to determine the profile of a bubble at various rotating speeds under the gravity environments from low gravity, microgravity to zero-gravity. The present paper discusses the further extension of the study of the determination of bubble shape in a higher rotating speed container developed by Hung and Leslie.

Atmospheric density remote sensing of mesosphere and thermosphere to be used for spacecraft design by adopting VHF radar and HF Doppler sounder at low latitude West Pacific site during winter

Abstract The VHF radar and HF Doppler sounder located at the subtropical and low latitude observing site of Taiwan has been used to make a simultaneous observation for atmospheric parameters from the troposphere, to the middle atmosphere, and then to the thermosphere during the time period of the weak convective motions of cold front in winter time. For observations at mesospheric heights, time dependent wind velocities with three-dimensional profiles are detected in the backscattered power, radial velocities and Doppler spectral width. For observations at thermospheric heights, time-dependent phase path change of high frequency radio wave reflected from ionospheric heights is used to measure Doppler frequency variation of gravity wave parameters. The density perturbations caused by the propagation of the gravity waves due to the weak convective motions in winter time were calculated from the VHF radar and HF Doppler sounder observations simultaneously. These short-term middle atmospheric and thermospheric density changes are a key element needed for space vehicle design purposes. Projects such as the Space Shuttle, Shuttle II, Tethered Satellite, Hubble Space Telescope, Aerobraking Orbital Transfer Vehicle, and Aeroassisted Flight Experiment will benefit from such studies.

Effect of surface tension on the dynamical behavior of bubble in rotating fluids under low gravity environment

Time dependent evolutions of the profile of free surface (bubble shapes) for a cylindrical container partially filled with a Newtonian fluid of constant density, rotating about its axis of symmetry, have been studied. Numerical computations of the dynamics of bubble shapes have been carried out with the following situations: (1) linear functions of spin-up and spin-down in low and microgravity environments, (2) linear functions of increasing and decreasing gravity enviroment in high and low rotating cylidner speeds, (3) step functions of spin-up and spin-down in a low gravity environment, and (4) sinusoidal function oscillation of gravity environment in high and low rotating cylinder speeds. The initial condition of bubble profiles was adopted from the steady-state formulations in which the computer algorithms have been developed by Hung and Leslie (1988), and Hung et al. (1988).