UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Thompson, Corinna Sue
Dept./Program:
Mechanical Engineering
Year:
2009
Degree:
MS
Abstract:
Spectrally resolved emission measurements have been obtained recently in the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) Facility at test conditions relevant to lunar return missions and Mars aero-capture missions. A subset of these measurements has been analyzed to find the Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) temperature using different methods to determine whether or not the spectra were obtained at equilibrium conditions. This LTE verification study has been undertaken, to support the development of a benchmark data set for the verification of radiative heat transfer calculations for lunar return trajectories. Quantitative assessment of LTE for the test conditions is the first step in the evaluation of spectral models of Earth and Mars atmosphere shock-induced emission, which is a prerequisite to the evaluation of non-equilibrium spectral modeling.
The analysis has involved local thermodynamic equilibrium temperature (T[subscript LTE]) determination using single species excitation line intensity. Once the T[subscript LTE] is determined for specific cases, the code NEQAIR is used to produce a spectrum at the same conditions as the experiments. Comparison of the NEQAIR results to the experimental data provide and independent evaluation of the code's ability to predict species excitation under these conditions.
The analysis has involved local thermodynamic equilibrium temperature (T[subscript LTE]) determination using single species excitation line intensity. Once the T[subscript LTE] is determined for specific cases, the code NEQAIR is used to produce a spectrum at the same conditions as the experiments. Comparison of the NEQAIR results to the experimental data provide and independent evaluation of the code's ability to predict species excitation under these conditions.