The effectiveness of Coriolis dampening of convection during aircraft high-g arcs

Abstract

Directional solidification data for metal samples in KC-135 parabolic maneuvers are examined to determine evidence for Coriolis dampening of convection. Microstructural and materials properties data are examined for iron carbon, immiscible, and superalloy systems. By comparison of low- g data and high- g data with those of one- g control samples, it is determined that there is no evidence that Coriolis dampening of convective flow is effective during the 1.8 g KC-135 high- g maneuvers. A first approximation model for the high- g arc is proposed. The model yields a centrifugal radius of 20,480 ft and an angular speed of 0.397 RPM. Comparison to centrifugal solidification experiments (for an equal acceleration) where Coriolis melt growth stabilization is significant indicates that the KC-135 high- g arc is less effective in dampening convection by a factor of 100. This large difference in Coriolis dampening of convection might be taken advantage of for experiments where separation of centrifugal acceleration and Coriolis acceleration is desirable.