Application of X-Ray Absorption to Measurement of Small Air-Density Gradients

Abstract

An analysis of two X-ray absorption methods for determining small air-density gradients is presented. One method utilizes a Geiger-Mueller counter for detection and the other uses photographic film for detection. The methods are a refinement of a previous similar application. With the resulting sensitivity in density measurement, the first method was successfully applied to the evaluation of a 6-percent density gradient of a flat-plate boundary layer of about 0.024-inch thickness in a two-dimensional-flow channel. In the other method, the divergence of the X-ray beam passing the absorber poses a problem. A solution to this problem is postulated. In addition, example calculations of the expected sensitivity in boundary-layer density measurements are given for X-ray parameters selected for optimum operation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1951
Accession Number
ADA382390

Entities

People

  • Daryl Papke
  • Ruth N. Weltmann
  • Steven Fairweather

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Coefficients
  • Boundary Layer
  • Coefficients
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Diffraction
  • Emulsions
  • Mach Number
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Photographic Film
  • Photographic Materials
  • Scattering
  • Shock Waves
  • Two Dimensional Flow
  • Wind Tunnels
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Spectroscopy.