Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

About: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is a facility organization based out in Thiruvananthapuram, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Aerosol & Ultimate tensile strength. The organization has 2092 authors who have published 3058 publications receiving 47975 citations. The organization is also known as: VSSC.

Remote Energetic Neutral Atom Imaging of Electric Potential Over a Lunar Magnetic Anomaly

Abstract: The formation of electric potential over lunar magnetized regions is essential for understanding fundamental lunar science, for understanding the lunar environment, and for planning human exploration on the Moon. A large positive electric potential was predicted and detected from single point measurements. Here, we demonstrate a remote imaging technique of electric potential mapping at the lunar surface, making use of a new concept involving hydrogen neutral atoms derived from solar wind. We apply the technique to a lunar magnetized region using an existing dataset of the neutral atom energy spectrometer SARA/CENA on Chandrayaan-1. Electrostatic potential larger than +135 V inside the Gerasimovic anomaly is confirmed. This structure is found spreading all over the magnetized region. The widely spread electric potential can influence the local plasma and dust environment near the magnetic anomaly.

Boundary-Layer Effects on Internal Flow Choking in Dual-Thrust Solid Rocket Motors

Abstract: Theoretical studies have been carried out to examine internal flow choking in the inert simulators of a dual-thrust motor. Using a two-dimensional k-omega turbulence model, detailed parametric studies have been carried out to examine aerodynamic choking and the existence of a fluid throat at the transition region during the startup transient of dual-thrust motors. This code solves standard k-omega turbulence equations with shear flow corrections using a coupled second-order-implicit unsteady formulation. In the numerical study, a fully implicit finite volume scheme of the compressible, Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations is employed. It was observed that, at the subsonic inflow conditions, there is a possibility of the occurrence of internal flow choking in dual-thrust motors due to the formation of a fluid throat at the beginning of the transition region induced by area blockage caused by boundary-layer-displacement thickness. It has been observed that a 55% increase in the upstream port area of the dual-thrust motor contributes to a 25% reduction in blockage factor at the transition region, which could negate the internal How choking and supplement with an early choking of the dual-thrust motor nozzle. If the height of the upstream port relative to the motor length is too small, the developing boundary layers from either side of the port can interact, leading to a choked,flow. On the other hand, if the developing boundary layers are far enough apart, then choking does not occur. The blockage factor is greater in magnitude for the choked case than for the unchoked case. More tangible explanations are presented in this paper for the boundary-layer blockage and the internal flow choking in dual-thrust motors, which hitherto has been unexplored.

Nanoclay reinforced thermoplastic toughened epoxy hybrid syntactic foam: Surface morphology, mechanical and thermo mechanical properties

Abstract: Epoxy hybrid syntactic foams were prepared with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin, diamino diphenyl sulfone (DDS), hydroxyl terminated polyether ether ketone having pendant methyl group (PEEKMOH), microballoon and nanoclay. The density of the foam was maintained between 0.6 and 0.72 g/cc for all compositions. Fracture toughness, tensile, flexural and compressive properties of the foam were evaluated with respect to clay and PEEKMOH concentrations. Morphology by X-ray diffraction revealed that the clay particles within the epoxy resin were intercalated for all the compositions of the syntactic foam. Fracture toughness and mechanical properties of the syntactic foam were significantly improved by the addition of nanoclay. A further enhancement in fracture toughness and mechanical properties was observed by the addition of PEEKMOH. The hybrid epoxy syntactic foam thus prepared exhibited 58%, 77% and 38% improvement in compressive strength, percentage elongation and fracture toughness, respectively, compared to the neat epoxy syntactic foam. The specific mechanical properties were found to be higher for the epoxy hybrid syntactic foam containing 3 wt% nanoclay and 3 wt% of PEEKMOH combination. The storage and loss modulus of the syntactic foam were also increased by the addition of nanoclay and PEEKMOH. A marginal improvement in Tg was observed with clay incorporated syntactic foam. SEM analysis revealed that increased microcracking, crack path deflection, matrix deformation, plastic deformation, rupture of microballoons and debonded microspheres influencing on fracture toughness and mechanical properties of epoxy hybrid syntactic foam.