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Microgravity Research in Support of Technologies for the Human Exploration and Development of Space and Planetary Bodies (2000) / Chapter Skim
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VI Summary of Recommended Research on Fundamental Phenomena
Pages 179-184

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From page 179...
... It will also be essential for NASA to develop a description, across a wide range of physical phenomena and the corresponding dimensionless parameters, of the manner in which changes in gravity level produce fundamental changes in system performance. It also seems clear that it will not be possible to arrive at confident design conclusions through a costly process of repeated tests in space of the many important systems and components.
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From page 180...
... The proposed research is intended to give NASA the ability to better understand the performance of multiphase systems in space and to provide the basis for the development of accurate computational capabilities. It is recognized that there will be a continuing need for experimental microgravity data and appropriate empirical correlations, since some physical phenomena and HEDS design
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From page 181...
... This knowledge should allow the development of physically based models for the prediction of both adiabatic and diabetic flow regimes and flow regime transition in reduced and microgravity environments. The resultant two-fluid model should be suitable for use in multidimensional CFD solvers, and these computational models should be assessed against phase distribution and separation data taken at various gravity levels.
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From page 182...
... [Priority Lower] Granular Materials The activities of site preparation, habitat construction, mining activities, and the installation of transportation and energy distribution networks on the Moon and Mars depend on the ability to penetrate and excavate soils using the same types of heavy construction equipment and material manipulation techniques as are used on Earth.
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From page 183...
... The purpose of such research would be to provide a rational basis for designing booms, tethers, and control methods for maintaining appropriate spacecraft rotation or, alternatively, for the solid or fluid rotation of spacecraft components separately. More generally, applied research looking toward economic and effective artificial gravity should emphasize applications common to both physical and biological systems.
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From page 184...
... That is, a component may operate according to phenomena unaffected by gravity level but may still behave differently in reduced gravity. Or the component may have been designed to take account of fractional gravity and therefore may be different from the corresponding components designed for Earth gravity.
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Key Terms

  • reduced gravity
  • gravity levels
  • multidimensional cfd
  • multiphase flow
  • gravity level

  • physically based
  • granular material
  • earth gravity
  • artificial gravity
  • cfd model

  • transfer phenomena
  • condensation heat
  • computational models
  • physical phenomena
  • transfer enhancement

  • forced convective
  • pressure drop
  • flow regimes
  • microgravity environments
  • applied stress

  • flame spread
  • porous media
  • multiphase phenomena
  • cfd models
  • multiphase flows

  • cfd solvers
  • flow regime
  • microgravity data
  • corresponding components
  • heds applications


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