Characterization and modeling of premixed turbulent n-heptane flames in the thin reaction zone regime

n-heptane/air premixed turbulent flames in the high-Karlovitz portion of the thin reaction zone regime are characterized and modeled in this thesis using Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) with detailed chemistry. In order to perform these simulations, a time-integration scheme that can efficiently handle the stiffness of the equations solved is developed first. A first simulation with unity Lewis number is considered in order to assess the effect of turbulence on the flame in the absence of differential diffusion. A second simulation with non-unity Lewis numbers is considered to study how turbulence affects differential diffusion. In the absence of differential diffusion, minimal departure from the 1D unstretched flame structure (species vs. temperature profiles) is observed. In the non-unity Lewis number case, the flame structure lies between that of 1D unstretched flames with "laminar" non-unity Lewis numbers and unity Lewis number. This is attributed to effective Lewis numbers resulting from intense turbulent mixing and a first model is proposed. The reaction zone is shown to be thin for both flames, yet large chemical source term fluctuations are observed. The fuel consumption rate is found to be only weakly correlated with stretch, although local extinctions in the non-unity Lewis number case are well correlated with high curvature. These results explain the apparent turbulent flame speeds. Other variables that better correlate with this fuel burning rate are identified through a coordinate transformation. It is shown that the unity Lewis number turbulent flames can be accurately described by a set of 1D (in progress variable space) flamelet equations parameterized by the dissipation rate of the progress variable. In the non-unity Lewis number flames, the flamelet equations suggest a dependence on a second parameter, the diffusion of the progress variable. A new tabulation approach is proposed for the simulation of such flames with these dimensionally-reduced manifolds.

Time-dependent monoenergetic neutron transport in two adjacent semi-infinite media

An exact solution to the monoenergetic Boltzmann equation is obtained for the case of a plane isotropic burst of neutrons introduced at the interface separating two adjacent, dissimilar, semi-infinite media. The method of solution used is to remove the time dependence by a Laplace transformation, solve the transformed equation by the normal mode expansion method, and then invert to recover the time dependence.

The general result is expressed as a sum of definite, multiple integrals, one of which contains the uncollided wave of neutrons originating at the source plane. It is possible to obtain a simplified form for the solution at the interface, and certain numerical calculations are made there.

The interface flux in two adjacent moderators is calculated and plotted as a function of time for several moderator materials. For each case it is found that the flux decay curve has an asymptotic slope given accurately by diffusion theory. Furthermore, the interface current is observed to change directions when the scattering and absorption cross sections of the two moderator materials are related in a certain manner. More specifically, the reflection process in two adjacent moderators appears to depend initially on the scattering properties and for long times on the absorption properties of the media.

This analysis contains both the single infinite and semi-infinite medium problems as special cases. The results in these two special cases provide a check on the accuracy of the general solution since they agree with solutions of these problems obtained by separate analyses.

Investigations into electronic stopping regime sputtering of uranium tetrafluoride

Yields were measured for ²³⁵U sputtered from UF₄ by ¹⁶O, ¹⁹F, and ³⁵Cl over the energy range ~.12 to 1.5 MeV/ amu sing a charge equilibrated beam in the stripped beam arrangement for all the incident ions and in the transmission arrangement for ¹⁹F and ³⁵Cl. In addition, yields were measured for ¹⁹F incident in a wide range of discrete charge states. The angular dependence of all the measured yields were consistent with cosʋ. The stripped beam and transmission data were well fit by the form (Az²eqln(BƐ)/Ɛ)⁴ (where Ɛ was the ion energy in MeV/amu and z_eq(Ɛ) was taken from Zeigler(80). The fitted values of B for the various sets of data were consistent with a constant B₀, equal to 36.3 ± 2.7, independent of incident ion. The fitted values of A show no consistent variation with incident ion although a difference can be noted between the stripped beam and transmission values, the transmission values being higher.

The incident charge data were well fit by the assumptions that the sputtering yield depended locally on a power of the incident ion charge and that the sputtering from the surface is exponentially correlated to conditions in the bulk. The equilibrated sputtering yields derived from these data are in agreement with the stripped beam yields.

In addition, to aid in the understanding of these data, the data of Hakansson(80,81a,81b) were examined and contrasted with the UF₄ results. The thermal models of Seiberling(80) and Watson(81) were discussed and compared to the data.