Paul D. RonneyPaul D. Ronney

Dept. of Aerospace & Mechanical EngineeringDept. of Aerospace & Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA 90089-1453 USALos Angeles, CA 90089-1453 USA

Presented at Jhong-Li HighPresented at Jhong-Li High School, 3 October 2005School, 3 October 2005

http://ronney.usc.eduhttp://ronney.usc.edu

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video decompressorare needed to see this picture.

University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

• Established 125 years ago Established 125 years ago this week!this week!• ……jointly by a Catholic, a Protestant and a Jew - USC has jointly by a Catholic, a Protestant and a Jew - USC has

always been a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, coeducational always been a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, coeducational universityuniversity

• Today: 32,000 students, 3000 facultyToday: 32,000 students, 3000 faculty• 2 main campuses: University Park and Health Sciences2 main campuses: University Park and Health Sciences• USC Trojans football team ranked #1 in USA last 2 yearsUSC Trojans football team ranked #1 in USA last 2 years

USC Viterbi School of EngineeringUSC Viterbi School of Engineering

• Naming gift by Andrew & Erma ViterbiNaming gift by Andrew & Erma Viterbi• Andrew Viterbi: co-founder of Qualcomm, co-inventor of CDMAAndrew Viterbi: co-founder of Qualcomm, co-inventor of CDMA• 1900 undergraduates, 3300 graduate students, 165 faculty, 30 1900 undergraduates, 3300 graduate students, 165 faculty, 30

degree optionsdegree options• $135 million external research funding$135 million external research funding• Distance Education Network (DEN): 900 students in 28 M.S. Distance Education Network (DEN): 900 students in 28 M.S.

degree programs; degree programs; 1171 MS degrees awarded in 200571 MS degrees awarded in 2005• More info: More info: http://viterbi.usc.eduhttp://viterbi.usc.edu

Paul RonneyPaul Ronney

• B.S. Mechanical Engineering, UC BerkeleyB.S. Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley• M.S. Aeronautics, CaltechM.S. Aeronautics, Caltech• Ph.D. in Aeronautics & Astronautics, MITPh.D. in Aeronautics & Astronautics, MIT• Postdocs: NASA Glenn, Cleveland; US Naval Research Postdocs: NASA Glenn, Cleveland; US Naval Research

Lab, Washington DCLab, Washington DC• Assistant Professor, Princeton UniversityAssistant Professor, Princeton University• Associate/Full Professor, USCAssociate/Full Professor, USC• Research interestsResearch interests

• Microscale combustion and power generation Microscale combustion and power generation (10/4, INER; 10/5 NCKU)(10/4, INER; 10/5 NCKU)

• Microgravity combustion and fluid mechanics Microgravity combustion and fluid mechanics (10/4, NCU)(10/4, NCU)• Turbulent combustion Turbulent combustion (10/7, NTHU)(10/7, NTHU)• Internal combustion enginesInternal combustion engines• Ignition, flammability, extinction limits of flames Ignition, flammability, extinction limits of flames (10/3, NCU)(10/3, NCU)• Flame spread over solid fuel bedsFlame spread over solid fuel beds• Biophysics and biofilms Biophysics and biofilms (10/6, NCKU)(10/6, NCKU)

Paul RonneyPaul Ronney

What is gravity?What is gravity?

4 forces of nature4 forces of nature Gravity forceGravity force Electromagnetic forceElectromagnetic force Strong nuclear forceStrong nuclear force Weak nuclear forceWeak nuclear force

Gravity is the attractive force between Gravity is the attractive force between any two objectsany two objects

Gravity is the most constant feature of Gravity is the most constant feature of our livesour lives

Aristotle's "laws" of nature: heavier Aristotle's "laws" of nature: heavier objects fall faster than lighter objectsobjects fall faster than lighter objects

Galileo Galilei proved this wrong!Galileo Galilei proved this wrong!

Gravity on the planets and the moonGravity on the planets and the moon

Earth 1 g Moon 1/6 g Mars 1/3 gEarth 1 g Moon 1/6 g Mars 1/3 g

Jupiter 2.5 g Saturn 1.1 gJupiter 2.5 g Saturn 1.1 g

What happens when there is no gravity?What happens when there is no gravity?

• ““Microgravity” (µg)Microgravity” (µg)• Simple example - candle flameSimple example - candle flame• Hot gases don’t rise - flame shape and burning rate are Hot gases don’t rise - flame shape and burning rate are

differentdifferent

1g µg1g µg

Why study microgravity? Material scienceWhy study microgravity? Material science

Earth-grown crystal: defects in structureEarth-grown crystal: defects in structure Space-grown crystal: nearly perfect Space-grown crystal: nearly perfect structurestructure

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Fundamental physicsFundamental physics

Einstein predicted that Einstein predicted that space-time is warped by space-time is warped by gravitygravity

Satellite experiment to Satellite experiment to test Einstein’s prediction test Einstein’s prediction more accurately than is more accurately than is possible on earthpossible on earth

How do we remove gravity? - free-fallHow do we remove gravity? - free-fall

Japan Microgravity Center - Kamisunagawa, HokkaidoJapan Microgravity Center - Kamisunagawa, HokkaidoLargest microgravity facility on earthLargest microgravity facility on earth

JAMIC drop shaftJAMIC drop shaft

Aircraft flying special pathsAircraft flying special paths

Orbiting spacecraftOrbiting spacecraft

International Space StationInternational Space Station

Example of microgravity research - “FLAME BALLS”Example of microgravity research - “FLAME BALLS”

• Predicted by Russian physicist Yakov B. Zeldovich in 1944, but no Predicted by Russian physicist Yakov B. Zeldovich in 1944, but no experimental evidence until ….experimental evidence until ….

Flame balls - historyFlame balls - history

• Ronney (1990): flame balls Ronney (1990): flame balls accidentallyaccidentally discovered in very discovered in very weak hydrogen-air mixtures in drop-tower experiment weak hydrogen-air mixtures in drop-tower experiment

QuickTime™ and aVideo decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Flame balls - historyFlame balls - history

• Results confirmed in aircraft flights, but aircraft vibrations Results confirmed in aircraft flights, but aircraft vibrations problematicproblematic

Implementation of space experimentImplementation of space experiment

• Need space experiment - long duration, high quality µgNeed space experiment - long duration, high quality µg• Structure Of Flame Balls At Low Lewis-number Structure Of Flame Balls At Low Lewis-number

(SOFBALL)(SOFBALL)• 2 NASA Space Shuttle missions (April 4 - 8, 1997, July 1 - 2 NASA Space Shuttle missions (April 4 - 8, 1997, July 1 -

16, 1997)16, 1997)

Implementation of space experimentImplementation of space experiment

• Combustion Module-1 (CM-1) facilityCombustion Module-1 (CM-1) facility• 15 different mixtures burned15 different mixtures burned

Experimental apparatusExperimental apparatus

• Combustion vesselCombustion vessel• Spark ignition systemSpark ignition system• Video camerasVideo cameras• Temperature, pressure, heat transferTemperature, pressure, heat transfer

Flame balls - practical importanceFlame balls - practical importance

• Fire safety in manned spacecraft - space shuttle and Fire safety in manned spacecraft - space shuttle and International Space StationInternational Space Station

• Flame ball - simplest possible flame - test combustion Flame ball - simplest possible flame - test combustion modelsmodels

• Improved understanding of combustion of weak mixtures - Improved understanding of combustion of weak mixtures - can provide better fuel efficiency & lower pollutant can provide better fuel efficiency & lower pollutant emission, but better scientific understanding neededemission, but better scientific understanding needed

Practical importancePractical importance

Flame balls in spaceFlame balls in space

• Stable for more than 500 Stable for more than 500 seconds (!)seconds (!)

• Weakest flames ever burned Weakest flames ever burned (1 – 2 Watts/ball) (birthday (1 – 2 Watts/ball) (birthday candle ≈ 50 Watts)candle ≈ 50 Watts)

4.0% H4.0% H22-air, 223 sec elapsed time-air, 223 sec elapsed time

4.9% H4.9% H22- 9.8% O- 9.8% O22 - 85.3% CO - 85.3% CO22, 500 sec, 500 sec 6.6% H6.6% H22- 13.2% O- 13.2% O22 - 79.2% SF - 79.2% SF66, 500 sec, 500 sec

QuickTime™ and aVideo decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Astronaut Janice Voss with Zel’dovich’s watchAstronaut Janice Voss with Zel’dovich’s watch

Re-flight on STS-107 / Columbia missionRe-flight on STS-107 / Columbia mission

• SOFBALL mission re-flown on STS-107 / Columbia’s last SOFBALL mission re-flown on STS-107 / Columbia’s last flight to obtain additional scientific resultsflight to obtain additional scientific results

• Much of experimental data obtained despite loss of Much of experimental data obtained despite loss of Columbia and crew by “downlinking” data to the ground Columbia and crew by “downlinking” data to the ground during the missionduring the mission

Crew operationsCrew operations

Thanks Dave, Ilan, KC and Mike!Thanks Dave, Ilan, KC and Mike!

……and the rest!and the rest!

Space flight trainingSpace flight training

• 2 types of training2 types of training• Orbiter-relatedOrbiter-related

• Launch & entryLaunch & entry• Living in spaceLiving in space• Photography, videographyPhotography, videography

• Payload related Payload related • Science backgroundScience background• Procedures and schedulesProcedures and schedules• Performing experimentsPerforming experiments• On-orbit repairOn-orbit repair

• Not like “The Right Stuff” now - STRAIGHTFORWARDNot like “The Right Stuff” now - STRAIGHTFORWARD• Toughest part - TRAVELToughest part - TRAVEL• Best partsBest parts

• Doing experiments when no one can predict what will happenDoing experiments when no one can predict what will happen• Looking out the windowLooking out the window

Space flight trainingSpace flight training

• 3 types of astronauts3 types of astronauts• PilotsPilots

• Responsible for launch, landing and on-orbit operation of Space Responsible for launch, landing and on-orbit operation of Space ShuttleShuttle

• Chosen by NASA Astronaut selection boardChosen by NASA Astronaut selection board• Almost all are military pilots Almost all are military pilots

• Mission specialistsMission specialists• Responsible for payload operations - science experiments, Responsible for payload operations - science experiments,

spacewalks, etc.spacewalks, etc.• Chosen by NASA Astronaut selection boardChosen by NASA Astronaut selection board

• Payload specialistsPayload specialists• Chosen because of need for a particular scientific / engineering / Chosen because of need for a particular scientific / engineering /

political expertise not available in regular astronaut corpspolitical expertise not available in regular astronaut corps• Chosen by scientists with experiments on flight, or by political willChosen by scientists with experiments on flight, or by political will• Not present on most flightsNot present on most flights• Examples: PDR, John Glenn, Ilan Ramon (1st Israeli astronaut)Examples: PDR, John Glenn, Ilan Ramon (1st Israeli astronaut)

Space flight trainingSpace flight training

• Classroom training - Shuttle equipment &operations, Classroom training - Shuttle equipment &operations, communications, emergency procedures, photography, …communications, emergency procedures, photography, …

Space flight trainingSpace flight training

• Living in spaceLiving in space

Space flight trainingSpace flight training

• Space walk (EVA)Space walk (EVA)

Space flight trainingSpace flight training

• Flight trainingFlight training

Perspective on space flight trainingPerspective on space flight training

Earth ObservationsEarth Observations

Tifernine Sand Dunes, AlgeriaTifernine Sand Dunes, Algeria

Earth ObservationsEarth Observations

Guadalupe Island, MexicoGuadalupe Island, Mexico

Earth ObservationsEarth Observations

Deforestation in BrazilDeforestation in Brazil

Earth ObservationsEarth Observations

Red Sea and Sinai PeninsulaRed Sea and Sinai Peninsula

Earth ObservationsEarth Observations

Dead Sea - IsraelDead Sea - Israel

Earth ObservationsEarth Observations

Hurricane Elena, September 1985Hurricane Elena, September 1985

Earth ObservationsEarth Observations

Tibet - HimalayasTibet - Himalayas

Earth ObservationsEarth Observations

TaiwanTaiwan

Thanks to…Thanks to…

• Jhong-Li High SchoolJhong-Li High School• Combustion Institute (Bernard Lewis Lectureship travel Combustion Institute (Bernard Lewis Lectureship travel

award)award)• NASANASA