Thermal gradients in micrometeoroids during atmospheric entry

Author(s):  
M.J. Genge ◽  
M.M. Grady
1999 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Genge ◽  
M. M. Grady

AbstractThe fusion crusts of meteorites form due to heating during atmospheric entry and have mineralogies which are strongly influenced by changes in oxidation state. We have studied the fusion crusts of the most reduced primitive meteorite group, the enstatite chondrites, since they should demonstrate pronounced changes on oxidation. The fusion crusts are dominated by highly unequilibrated assemblages of sulphide, metal and oxide with compositions indicative of progressive oxidation by the reaction with atmospheric oxygen. Troilite becomes depleted in Ti, Cr and Mn, and enriched in Ni with increasing oxidation. Enrichments in the Ni-contents of kamacite and depletions in Si-content also occur with oxidation, although contemporaneous enrichments in Si within metal droplets occurs by partial melting. Assemblages dominated by Fe-oxide are found within fusion crusts as reaction rims on metal, as veins and within troilite-metal assemblages as droplets and formed by oxidation of metal during heating. Despite the evidence for large increases in redox state during heating, fusion crusts also contain lithophile sulphides indicating a high degree of disequilibrium during the atmospheric reprocessing of enstatite chondrite materials. Based on comparisons with experimental phase relations, ablation rates of 0.08–0.25 cm s−1 are predicted from the thermal gradients recorded in fusion crusts; these rates are broadly similar to those suggested for other meteorite groups.


Author(s):  
O. M. Katz

The swelling of irradiated UO2 has been attributed to the migration and agglomeration of fission gas bubbles in a thermal gradient. High temperatures and thermal gradients obtained by electron beam heating simulate reactor behavior and lead to the postulation of swelling mechanisms. Although electron microscopy studies have been reported on UO2, two experimental procedures have limited application of the results: irradiation was achieved either with a stream of inert gas ions without fission or at depletions less than 2 x 1020 fissions/cm3 (∼3/4 at % burnup). This study was not limited either of these conditions and reports on the bubble characteristics observed by transmission and fractographic electron microscopy in high density (96% theoretical) UO2 irradiated between 3.5 and 31.3 x 1020 fissions/cm3 at temperatures below l600°F. Preliminary results from replicas of the as-polished and etched surfaces of these samples were published.


1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Tribble ◽  
J. McKinney ◽  
M. Collier
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
pp. 75-86
Author(s):  
Sergio Antonio Camargo ◽  
Lauro Correa Romeiro ◽  
Carlos Alberto Mendes Moraes

The present article aimed to test changes in cooling water temperatures of males, present in aluminum injection molds, to reduce failures due to thermal fatigue. In order to carry out this work, cooling systems were studied, including their geometries, thermal gradients and the expected theoretical durability in relation to fatigue failure. The cooling system tests were developed with the aid of simulations in the ANSYS software and with fatigue calculations, using the method of Goodman. The study of the cooling system included its geometries, flow and temperature of this fluid. The results pointed to a significant increase in fatigue life of the mold component for the thermal conditions that were proposed, with a significant increase in the number of cycles, to happen failures due to thermal fatigue.


Author(s):  
Christof Mast ◽  
Friederike Möller ◽  
Moritz Kreysing ◽  
Severin Schink ◽  
Benedikt Obermayer ◽  
...  

How does inanimate matter become transformed into animate matter? Living systems evolve by replication and selection at the molecular level and this chapter considers how to establish a synthetic, minimal system that can support molecular evolution and thus life. Molecular evolution cannot be explained by starting with high concentrations of activated chemicals that react toward their chemical equilibrium; persistent non-equilibria are required to maintain continuous reactivity and we especially consider thermal gradients as an early driving force for Darwinian molecular evolution. The temperature difference across water-filled compartments implements a laminar fluid convection with periodic temperature oscillations that allow for the melting and replication of DNA. Simultaneously, dissolved molecules are moved along the thermal gradient by an effect called thermophoresis. The combined result is an efficient molecule trap that exponentially favors long over short DNA and thus maintains complexity. Future experiments will reveal how thermal gradients could actively drive the Darwinian process of replication and selection.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document