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Johnson, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Johnson, K..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

A 2–4 keV multilayer mirrored channel for the NIF Dante system

During inertial confinement fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), a capsule filled with deuterium and tritium (DT) gas, surrounded by a DT ice layer and a high-density carbon ablator, is driven to the temperature and densities required to initiate fusion. In the indirect method, 2 MJ of NIF laser light heats the inside of a gold hohlraum to a radiation temperature of 300 eV; thermal x rays from the hohlraum interior couple to the capsule and create a central hotspot at tens of millions degrees Kelvin and a density of 100–200 g/cm3. During the laser interaction with the gold wall, m-band x rays are produced at ∼2.5 keV; these can penetrate into the capsule and preheat the ablator and DT fuel. Preheat can impact instability growth rates in the ablation front and at the fuel–ablator interface. Monitoring the hohlraum x-ray spectrum throughout the implosion is, therefore, critical; for this purpose, a Multilayer Mirror (MLM) with flat response in the 2–4 keV range has been installed in the NIF 37° Dante calorimeter. Precision engineering and x-ray calibration of components mean the channel will report 2–4 keV spectral power with an uncertainty of ±8.7%.

Rubery, M. S. (ORCID:0000000344152818)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Project Report for Cold Spray: Phase 2

In support of the ongoing environmental protection mission at the Hanford Site, led by Washington River Protection Services (WRPS), the cold spray team has continued development of the tank refurbishment technology. Orano Federal Services, along with subcontractors VRC Metal Systems (VRC) and Robotic Technologies of Tennessee (RTT), have worked with WRPS experts to refine the tools demonstrated in Phase 1 of this project, with the potential to refurbish double shell tanks (DST)s on the Hanford Site, extending the service lives of these vital waste storage facilities.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2021

Method for Rapid Modeling of Distortion in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Metal Additive Manufacturing Parts

The simulation and modeling of part-level distortion and residual stress in diverse metal additive manufacturing (AM) geometries has great potential to enable the rapid adoption of this technology in engineering design. Moreover, the use of additive manufacturing component libraries (CLs) offer a computationally efficient means of quantifying these part-level defects resultant from AM processing. We report on how the individual simulations of simple shapes, potential entries in a CL, can be superimposed to provide an indication of distortion and residual stresses in complex geometries. Laser powder bed fusion AM was used to construct test geometries of varied shapes and their combinations in the form of CLs in an effort to characterize location-dependent and feature-dependent distortion distributions. Blue light scanning was used to experimentally measure 3D distortions in order to investigate the interaction between the component shapes and local boundary conditions. Overall, part-level distortions were highly dependent on test component geometry, local boundary conditions, and shape combination. Commercial finite element software was used to verify experimental trends and to make predictions of distortion. The use of CLs resulted in over 20 times savings in computational cost while reproducing overall trends in distortion for test geometry assemblies. Therefore, it is anticipated that the use of CLs for L-PBF AM geometries has demonstrated potential to facilitate efficient simulations of full component AM assemblies, thereby reducing the need for costly trial-and-error-type experimental analysis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Dynamic Tensile Response of a Fe–49Co–2V Alloy at Various Strain Rates and Temperatures

Soft ferromagnetic alloys are often utilized in electromagnetic applications due to their desirable magnetic properties. In support of these applications, the ferromagnetic alloys are also required to bear mechanical load under various loading and environmental conditions. In this study, a Fe–49Co–2V alloy was dynamically characterized in tension with a Kolsky tension bar and a Drop–Hopkinson bar at various strain rates and temperatures. Dynamic tensile stress–strain curves of the Fe–49Co–2V alloy were obtained at strain rates ranging from 40 to 230 s -1 and temperatures from - 100 to 100 °C. All dynamic tensile stress–strain curves exhibited an initial linear elastic response to an upper yield followed by Lüders band response and then a nearly linear work-hardening behavior. The yield strength of this material was found to be sensitive to both strain rate and temperature, whereas the hardening rate was independent of strain rate or temperature. The Fe–49Co–2V alloy exhibited a feature of brittle fracture in tension under dynamic loading with no necking being observed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

The ARM Radar Network: At the Leading-edge of Cloud and Precipitation Observations

The ARM observatories include radars that span a range of frequencies and capabilities to characterize the three-dimensional structure and properties of atmospheric hydrometeors. Improving our ability to predict future weather and climate conditions is strongly linked to achieving significant advancements in our understanding of cloud and precipitation processes. Observations are critical to making these advancements because they both improve our understanding of these processes and provide constraints on numerical models. Historically, instruments for observing cloud properties have limited cloud-aerosol investigations to a small subset of cloud-process interactions. To address these challenges, the last decade has seen the U.S. DOE ARM facility significantly upgrade and expand its surveillance radar capabilities towards providing holistic and multi-scale observations of clouds and precipitation. These upgrades include radars that operate at four frequency bands covering a wide range of scattering regimes, improving upon the information contained in earlier ARM observations. The traditional ARM emphasis on the vertical column is maintained, providing more comprehensive, calibrated, and multiparametric measurements of clouds and precipitation. Furthermore, the ARM radar network now features multiple scanning dual-polarization Doppler radars to exploit polarimetric and multi-Doppler capabilities that provide a wealth of information on storm microphysics and dynamics under a wide range of conditions. While the diversity in wavelengths and detection capabilities are unprecedented, there is still considerable work ahead before the full potential of these radar advancements is realized. This includes synergy with other observations, improved forward and inverse modeling methods, and well-designed data-model integration methods. The overarching goal is to offer a comprehensive characterization of a complete volume of the cloudy atmosphere and to act as a natural laboratory for the study of cloud processes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Sparse-Sensor Placement for Wind Farm Control

The objective of this paper is to incorporate sparse sensor data to improve flow-field estimates in a wind farm, which can then be used to perform better online wind farm optimization and control. A sparse-sensing algorithm is used to determine the optimal locations of sensors to improve the overall estimation precision of the flow field within the wind farm. This algorithm takes advantage of the dominant atmospheric structures in a wind farm to reconstruct the flow field from point measurements in the field. These measurements, in their optimal locations, have the ability to improve the observability of a wind farm and thus provide faster, more accurate, state estimation.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

CAUSES: Attribution of Surface Radiation Biases in NWP and Climate Models near the U.S. Southern Great Plains

Abstract Many Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and climate models exhibit too warm lower tropospheres near the midlatitude continents. The warm bias has been shown to coincide with important surface radiation biases that likely play a critical role in the inception or the growth of the warm bias. This paper presents an attribution study on the net radiation biases in nine model simulations, performed in the framework of the CAUSES project (Clouds Above the United States and Errors at the Surface). Contributions from deficiencies in the surface properties, clouds, water vapor, and aerosols are quantified, using an array of radiation measurement stations near the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains site. Furthermore, an in‐depth analysis is shown to attribute the radiation errors to specific cloud regimes. The net surface shortwave radiation is overestimated in all models throughout most of the simulation period. Cloud errors are shown to contribute most to this overestimation, although nonnegligible contributions from the surface albedo exist in most models. Missing deep cloud events and/or simulating deep clouds with too weak cloud radiative effects dominate in the cloud‐related radiation errors. Some models have compensating errors between excessive occurrence of deep cloud but largely underestimating their radiative effect, while other models miss deep cloud events altogether. Surprisingly, even the latter models tend to produce too much and too frequent afternoon surface precipitation. This suggests that rather than issues with the triggering of deep convection, cloud radiative deficiencies are related to too weak convective cloud detrainment and too large precipitation efficiencies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2017

Gradient Compression Garments as a Countermeasure to Post-Space Flight Orthostatic Intolerance: Potential Interactions with the Maximum Absorbency Garment

Astronauts and cosmonauts may experience symptoms of orthostatic intolerance during re-entry, landing, and for several days post-landing following short- and long-duration spaceflight. Presyncopal symptoms have been documented in approximately 20% of short-duration and greater than 60% of long-duration flyers on landing day specifically during 5-10 min of controlled (no countermeasures employed at the time of testing) stand tests or 80 deg head-up tilt tests. Current operational countermeasures to orthostatic intolerance include fluid loading prior to and whole body cooling during re-entry as well as compression garments that are worn during and for up to several days after landing. While both NASA and the Russian space program have utilized compression garments to protect astronauts and cosmonauts traveling on their respective vehicles, a "next-generation" gradient compression garment (GCG) has been developed and tested in collaboration with a commercial partner to support future space flight missions. Unlike previous compression garments used operationally by NASA that provide a single level of compression across only the calves, thighs, and lower abdomen, the GCG provides continuous coverage from the feet to below the pectoral muscles in a gradient fashion (from approximately 55 mm Hg at the feet to approximately 16 mmHg across the abdomen). The efficacy of the GCG has been demonstrated previously after a 14-d bed rest study without other countermeasures and after short-duration Space Shuttle missions. Currently the GCG is being tested during a stand test following long-duration missions (~6 months) to the International Space Station. While results to date have been promising, interactions of the GCG with other space suit components have not been examined. Specifically, it is unknown whether wearing the GCG over NASA's Maximum Absorbency Garment (MAG; absorbent briefs worn for the collection of urine and feces while suited during re-entry and landing) will interfere with the effectiveness of the GCG or conversely whether the GCG will reduce the fluid absorption capabilities of the MAG. Methods: This operational, directed study, will (1) determine whether the effectiveness of the GCG is affected by the MAG with regard to cardiovascular responses to head-up tilt, the standard orthostatic intolerance test employed for astronauts and bed rest subjects; (2) determine whether the effectiveness of the MAG is compromised by the GCG tested by injecting a standard fluid volume (950 ml in 3 separate simulated "urine voids") at a standardized rate (30 ml/sec); and (3) determine whether comfort is affected by wearing the MAG under the GCG using a standardized questionnaire. Results from this study will guide future development and operational use of the GCG and MAG to maximize crew health, safety, and comfort.

Lee, S. M. C.↗
DOE OSTI2015

TiNy Titans: The role of dwarf–dwarf interactions in low-mass galaxy evolution

We introduce TiNy Titans (TNT), the first systematic study of star formation and the subsequent processing of the interstellar medium in interacting dwarf galaxies. Here we present the first results from a multiwavelength observational program based on a sample of 104 dwarf galaxy pairs selected from a range of environments within the spectroscopic portion of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and caught in various stages of interaction. The TNT dwarf pairs span mass ratios of M{sub ∗,1}/M{sub ∗,2} < 10, projected separations <50 kpc, and pair member masses of 7 < log(M{sub ∗}/M{sub ⊙}) < 9.7. The dwarf–dwarf merger sequence, as defined by TNT at z = 0, demonstrates conclusively and for the first time that the star formation enhancement observed for massive galaxy pairs also extends to the dwarf mass range. Star formation is enhanced in paired dwarfs in otherwise isolated environments by a factor of 2.3 (±0.7) at pair separations <50 kpc relative to unpaired analogs. The enhancement decreases with increasing pair separation and extends out to pair separations as large as 100 kpc. Starbursts, defined by Hα EQW >100 Å, occur in 20% of the TNT dwarf pairs, regardless of environment, compared to only 6%–8% of the matched unpaired dwarfs. Starbursts can be triggered throughout the merger (i.e., out to large pair separations) and not just approaching coalescence. Despite their enhanced star formation and triggered starbursts, most TNT dwarf pairs have similar gas fractions relative to unpaired dwarfs of the same stellar mass. Thus, there may be significant reservoirs of diffuse, non-star-forming neutral gas surrounding the dwarf pairs, or the gas consumption timescales may be long in the starburst phase. The only TNT dwarf pairs with low gas fractions (f{sub gas}<0.4) and the only dwarfs, either paired or unpaired, with Hα EQW < 2 Å are found near massive galaxy hosts. We conclude that dwarf–dwarf interactions are significant drivers of galaxy evolution at the low-mass end, but ultimately environment is responsible for the quenching of star formation. This preliminary study is a precursor to an ongoing high-resolution H i and optical imaging program to constrain the spatial distribution of star formation and gas throughout the course of the dwarf–dwarf merger sequence.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Scanning ARM Cloud Radars. Part II: Data Quality Control and Processing

The Scanning ARM Cloud Radars (SACR’s) are the primary instruments for documenting the four-dimensional structure and evolution of clouds within a 20-30 km radius from the ARM fixed and mobile sites. Here, the post-processing of the calibrated SACR measurements is discussed. First, a feature mask algorithm that objectively determines the presence of significant radar returns is described. The feature mask algorithm is based on the statistical properties of radar receiver noise. It accounts for atmospheric emission and is applicable even for SACR profiles with few or no signal-free range gates. Using the nearest-in-time atmospheric sounding, the SACR radar reflectivities are corrected for gaseous attenuation (water vapor and oxygen) using a line-by-line absorption model. Despite having a high pulse repetition frequency, the SACR has a narrow Nyquist velocity limit and thus Doppler velocity folding is commonly observed. An unfolding algorithm that makes use of a first guess for the true Doppler velocity using horizontal wind measurements from the nearest sounding is described. The retrieval of the horizontal wind profile from the HS-RHI SACR scan observations and/or nearest sounding is described. The retrieved horizontal wind profile can be used to adaptively configure SACR scan strategies that depend on wind direction. Several remaining challenges are discussed, including the removal of insect and second-trip echoes. The described algorithms significantly enhance SACR data quality and constitute an important step towards the utilization of SACR measurements for cloud research.

climate↗
DOE OSTI2013

A new data set for estimating organic carbon storage to 3 m depth in soils of the northern circumpolar permafrost region

High-latitude terrestrial ecosystems are key components in the global carbon cycle. The Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database (NCSCD) was developed to quantify stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the northern circumpolar permafrost region (a total area of 18.7 × 10 6 km 2 ). The NCSCD is a geographical information system (GIS) data set that has been constructed using harmonized regional soil classification maps together with pedon data from the northern permafrost region. Previously, the NCSCD has been used to calculate SOC storage to the reference depths 0–30 cm and 0–100 cm (based on 1778 pedons). It has been shown that soils of the northern circumpolar permafrost region also contain significant quantities of SOC in the 100–300 cm depth range, but there has been no circumpolar compilation of pedon data to quantify this deeper SOC pool and there are no spatially distributed estimates of SOC storage below 100 cm depth in this region. Here we describe the synthesis of an updated pedon data set for SOC storage (kg C m -2 ) in deep soils of the northern circumpolar permafrost regions, with separate data sets for the 100–200 cm (524 pedons) and 200–300 cm (356 pedons) depth ranges. These pedons have been grouped into the North American and Eurasian sectors and the mean SOC storage for different soil taxa (subdivided into Gelisols including the sub-orders Histels, Turbels, Orthels, permafrost-free Histosols, and permafrost-free mineral soil orders) has been added to the updated NCSCDv2. The updated version of the data set is freely available online in different file formats and spatial resolutions that enable spatially explicit applications in GIS mapping and terrestrial ecosystem models. While this newly compiled data set adds to our knowledge of SOC in the 100–300 cm depth range, it also reveals that large uncertainties remain. In conclusion, identified data gaps include spatial coverage of deep (> 100 cm) pedons in many regions as well as the spatial extent of areas with thin soils overlying bedrock and the quantity and distribution of massive ground ice.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2012

Development of Field Excavator with Embedded Force Measurement

A semi-intelligent excavation mechanism was developed for use with the NASA-built Centaur 2 rover prototype. The excavator features a continuously rotatable large bucket supported between two parallel arms, both of which share a single pivot axis near the excavator base attached to the rover. The excavator is designed to simulate the collection of regolith, such as on the Moon, and to dump the collected soil into a hopper up to one meter tall for processing to extract oxygen. Because the vehicle can be autonomous and the terrain is generally unknown, there is risk of damaging equipment or using excessive power when attempting to extract soil from dense or rocky terrain. To minimize these risks, it is critical for the rover to sense the digging forces and adjust accordingly. It is also important to understand the digging capabilities and limitations of the excavator. This paper discusses the implementation of multiple strain gages as an embedded force measurement system in the excavator's arms. These strain gages can accurately measure and resolve multi-axial forces on the excavator. In order to validate these sensors and characterize the load capabilities, a series of controlled excavation tests were performed at Glenn Research Center with the excavator at various depths and cut angles while supported by a six axis load cell. The results of these tests are both compared to a force estimation model and used for calibration of the embedded strain gages. In addition, excavation forces generated using two different types of bucket edge (straight vs. with teeth) were compared.

Soils↗