RE-ENTRY AND DISPOSAL PHENOMENA FOR NUCLEAR AUXILIARY POWER SYSTEMS, THE SCALING OF PROCESSES OF SIGNIFICANCE IN THE RE-ENTRY OF NUCLEAR FUEL ELEMENTS,
Abstract
Model scaling laws are formulated for several physical phenomena associated with re-entry and dispersal of the debris from an orbiting nuclear reactor or power source. These phenomena include nonlifting and tumbling free fall, aerodynamic heating, thermal stresses and transient temperature, gas desorption, and sorption expansion in homogeneous solids. Prototype scale trajectories are found to be possible using scale models in the case of spheres or tumbling rods. Aerodynamic heating in hypervelocity flight or ground test is shown, from well-known semi-empirical equations, to be simulated under certain conditions. Transient heating, degassing, and the resulting stressing of homogeneous solids are capable of only very limited simulation in model tests. A new kind of stressing, due to outgassing, is discussed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0425407
Entities
People
- B. M. Leadon
Organizations
- General Dynamics