Calculation of Gas Expansion in a Rarefied Atmosphere
Expert InsightsPublished 1971
Recently published similarity solutions for spherically and cylindrically symmetric gas expansions in rarefied atmospheres are extended to include the influence of ambient pressure. The former solutions and the extended solutions are then compared with exact numerical calculations for the same gas expansions. Limits of applicability of each solution are discussed, and the results compared with observations for a typical barium gas release in the upper atmosphere. The extended similarity solutions have a range of validity up to an order of magnitude greater than that of the previous solutions. However, all of the similarity solutions are rendered inapplicable by the early onset of diffusion as the dominant expansion mechanism.
Document Details
- Copyright: RAND Corporation
- Availability: Web Only
- Year: 1971
- Pages: 30
- Document Number: P-4562
Citation
RAND Style Manual
Brode, Harold L. and James E. Enstrom, Calculation of Gas Expansion in a Rarefied Atmosphere, RAND Corporation, P-4562, 1971. As of September 10, 2026: https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P4562.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Brode, Harold L. and James E. Enstrom, Calculation of Gas Expansion in a Rarefied Atmosphere. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1971. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P4562.html.
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