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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1992

Planetary surface exploration MESUR/autonomous lunar rover

Planetary surface exploration micro-rovers for collecting data about the Moon and Mars have been designed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Idaho. The goal of both projects was to design a rover concept that best satisfied the project objectives for NASA/Ames. A second goal was to facilitate student learning about the process of design. The first micro-rover is a deployment mechanism for the Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) Alpha Particle/Proton/X-ray (APX) Instrument. The system is to be launched with the 16 MESUR landers around the turn of the century. A Tubular Deployment System and a spiked-legged walker have been developed to deploy the APX from the lander to the Martian Surface. While on Mars, the walker is designed to take the APX to rocks to obtain elemental composition data of the surface. The second micro-rover is an autonomous, roving vehicle to transport a sensor package over the surface of the moon. The vehicle must negotiate the lunar terrain for a minimum of one year by surviving impacts and withstanding the environmental extremes. The rover is a reliable track-driven unit that operates regardless of orientation that NASA can use for future lunar exploratory missions. This report includes a detailed description of the designs and the methods and procedures which the University of Idaho design teams followed to arrive at the final designs.

Stauffer, Larry↗

DOE OSTI2022

Interim Mechanical Properties Data from FY2022 ORNL Testing of A709 with Precipitation Treatment for ASME Code Case Data Package

A collaborative research and development effort in support of the Alloy 709 Code Case qualification in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 5, High Temperature Reactors is being conducted at the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory. A recent assessment on the Alloy 709 development and testing effort concluded that the mechanical properties of Alloy 709 with the precipitation treatment continued to outperform those of Type 316 stainless steel. The assessment also affirmed the recommendation for its Code qualification. This report provides the detailed integrated data generated to date on the two commercial heats of Alloy 709 in plate product form with precipitation treatment condition that were used as the basis for this assessment. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has continued to perform a subset of the Code Case testing for tensile properties, creep rupture, fatigue, and creep-fatigue. This report also updates the key Alloy 709 Code Case testing status and results in FY 2022 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1992

Planetary surface exploration: MESUR/autonomous lunar rover

Planetary surface exploration micro-rovers for collecting data about the Moon and Mars was designed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Idaho. The goal of both projects was to design a rover concept that best satisfied the project objectives for NASA-Ames. A second goal was to facilitate student learning about the process of design. The first micro-rover is a deployment mechanism for the Mars Environmental SURvey (MESUR) Alpha Particle/Proton/X-ray instruments (APX). The system is to be launched with the sixteen MESUR landers around the turn of the century. A Tubular Deployment System and a spiked-legged walker was developed to deploy the APX from the lander to the Martian surface. While on Mars the walker is designed to take the APX to rocks to obtain elemental composition data of the surface. The second micro-rover is an autonomous, roving vehicle to transport a sensor package over the surface of the moon. The vehicle must negotiate the lunar-terrain for a minimum of one year by surviving impacts and withstanding the environmental extremes. The rover is a reliable track-driven unit that operates regardless of orientation which NASA can use for future lunar exploratory missions. A detailed description of the designs, methods, and procedures which the University of Idaho design teams followed to arrive at the final designs are included.

Stauffer, Larry↗

NASA NTRS1994

Experimental uncertainty and drag measurements in the national transonic facility

This report documents the results of a study which was conducted in order to establish a framework for the quantitative description of the uncertainty in measurements conducted in the National Transonic Facility (NTF). The importance of uncertainty analysis in both experiment planning and reporting results has grown significantly in the past few years. Various methodologies have been proposed and the engineering community appears to be 'converging' on certain accepted practices. The practical application of these methods to the complex wind tunnel testing environment at the NASA Langley Research Center was based upon terminology and methods established in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards. The report overviews this methodology.

Batill, Stephen M.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Ames Engineering Directorate

The Ames Engineering Directorate is the principal engineering organization supporting aerospace systems and spaceflight projects at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. The Directorate supports all phases of engineering and project management for flight and mission projects-from R&D to Close-out-by leveraging the capabilities of multiple divisions and facilities.The Mission Design Center (MDC) has full end-to-end mission design capability with sophisticated analysis and simulation tools in a collaborative concurrent design environment. Services include concept maturity level (CML) maturation, spacecraft design and trades, scientific instruments selection, feasibility assessments, and proposal support and partnerships. The Engineering Systems Division provides robust project management support as well as systems engineering, mechanical and electrical analysis and design, technical authority and project integration support to a variety of programs and projects across NASA centers. The Applied Manufacturing Division turns abstract ideas into tangible hardware for aeronautics, spaceflight and science applications, specializing in fabrication methods and management of complex fabrication projects. The Engineering Evaluation Lab (EEL) provides full satellite or payload environmental testing services including vibration, temperature, humidity, immersion, pressure/altitude, vacuum, high G centrifuge, shock impact testing and the Flight Processing Center (FPC), which includes cleanrooms, bonded stores and flight preparation resources. The Multi-Mission Operations Center (MMOC) is composed of the facilities, networks, IT equipment, software and support services needed by flight projects to effectively and efficiently perform all mission functions, including planning, scheduling, command, telemetry processing and science analysis.

Small Satellites↗

NASA NTRS1987

Tribology theory versus experiment

Tribology, the study of friction and wear of materials, has achieved a new interest because of the need for energy conservation. Fundamental understanding of this field is very complex and requires a knowledge of solid-state physics, material science, chemistry, and mechanical engineering. This paper is meant to be didactic in nature and outlines some of the considerations needed for a tribology research program. The approach is first to present a simple model, a field emission tip in contact with a flat surface, in order to elucidate important considerations, such as contact area, mechanical deformations, and interfacial bonding. Then examples from illustrative experiments are presented. Finally, the current status of physical theories concerning interfacial bonding are presented.

Ferrante, John↗

NASA NTRS2018

The Design & Development of the Ocean Color Instrument Precision Superduplex Hybrid Bearing Cartridge

A high precision, high-resolution Ocean Color Imaging (OCI) instrument is under development for the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission which requires a pair of medium speed mechanisms to scan the ocean surface continuously. The design of the rotating telescope (RT) mechanism operating at 360 RPM and the half-angle mirror (HAM) mechanism synchronized at 180 RPM was concern for maintaining pointing precision over the required life and continuous operations. An effort was undertaken with the manufacturer to design and analyze a special bearing configuration to minimize axial and radial runout, minimize torque, and maintain nominal contact stresses and stiffness over the operating temperature range and to maximize life. The bearing design, development effort, analysis and testing will be discussed as will the technical challenges that this specific design imposed upon the mechanism engineers. Bearing performance, runout as achieved and verified during encoder installation and operating torque will be described.

mechanism↗

NASA NTRS2006

Collected Papers in Structural Mechanics Honoring Dr. James H. Starnes, Jr.

This special publication contains a collection of structural mechanics papers honoring Dr. James H. Starnes, Jr. presented at the 46th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference held in Austin, Texas, April 18-21, 2005. Contributors to this publication represent a small number of those influenced by Dr. Starnes' technical leadership, his technical prowess and diversity, and his technical breath and depth in engineering mechanics. These papers cover some of the research areas Dr. Starnes investigated, which included buckling, postbuckling, and collapse of structures; composite structural mechanics, residual strength and damage tolerance of metallic and composite structures; and aircraft structural design, certification and verification. He actively pursued technical understanding and clarity, championed technical excellence, and modeled humility and perseverance.

Knight, Norman F., Jr.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Safeguards by Design Projects (FY2020 Final Report)

This University Engagement project challenged engineering students at universities, that do not have Bachelor degrees in nuclear engineering but do have research reactors and some nuclear engineering coursework, to incorporate Safeguards by Design concepts into their Senior Capstone Design Project. This University Engagement project was part of the U. S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Office of International Nuclear Safeguards, Next Generation Safeguards Initiative, Human Capital Development: University Engagement Program. This program exposed university students with Mechanical Engineering majors and Nuclear Engineering minors to the concepts of international nuclear safeguards. FY20, three teams at the University of Rhode Island and one team at the University of Texas - Austin participated in researching, designing, building, and testing projects to support international nuclear safeguards measurements or verification. The projects involved engaging in activities at the university’s research reactors. All the projects engaged students with prototyping a design and/or tool for application at the Universities’ reactor. At the end of the course, most of the students expressed the experience was a positive and they learned more about international nuclear safeguards and applying requirements than they had previously encountered. This school year the projects were further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both universities cancelled in class room classes, and limited direct student/professor interactions. Furthermore, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) greatly restricted travel, therefore making it impossible to visit the students at the end of the semester for the review of their design projects. The final design and review meeting for the projects happened via the internet. Additionally, while the teams planned to build prototypes this did not happen since there was a social distancing ban on students meeting in person.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Safeguards by Design Projects (Final Report FY2021)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Safeguards by Design Projects (Final Report-FY-22)

This University Engagement project challenged engineering students at universities, that do not have Bachelor degree programs in nuclear engineering but do have research reactors and some nuclear engineering coursework, to incorporate Safeguards by Design concepts into their Senior Capstone Design Project. This University Engagement project was part of the U. S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Office of International Nuclear Safeguards, Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI), Human Capital Development (HCD): University Engagement Program. This program exposed university students with Mechanical Engineering majors and Nuclear Engineering minors to the concepts of international nuclear safeguards. In FY22, three teams at the University of Rhode Island and two teams at the University of Texas - Austin participated in researching, designing, building, and testing projects to support international nuclear safeguards measurements or verification. The projects involved engaging in activities at the university’s research reactors. All the projects engaged students with prototyping a design and/or tool for application at the Universities’ reactor. At the end of the course, most of the students expressed the experience was positive and they learned more about international nuclear safeguards and applying requirements than they had previously encountered. This school year the projects were further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both universities had limited in classes on campus, still relying on Zoom classes, and limited direct student/professor interactions. Furthermore, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) greatly restricted travel, therefore making it impossible to visit the students at the end of the semester for the review of their design projects. The final design and review meeting for the projects happened via meetings over the internet. Additionally, the teams did build and test some prototypes but could only do so in a limited capacity.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2023

Safeguards by Design Table Top Exercises Final Report (FY 2023)

This University Engagement project challenged engineering students at universities, that do not have bachelor’s degree programs in nuclear engineering but do have research reactors and some nuclear engineering coursework, to develop capacity in Safeguards by Design concepts through the application of Tabletop Exercises. This University Engagement project was part of the U. S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Office of International Nuclear Safeguards, Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI), Human Capital Development (HCD): University Engagement Program. This program exposed university students with Mechanical Engineering majors and Nuclear Engineering minors to the concepts of international nuclear safeguards. In FY22, three teams at the University of Rhode Island and two teams at the University of Texas Austin participated in researching, designing, building, and testing projects to support international nuclear safeguards measurements or verification. The projects involved engaging in activities at the university’s research reactors. All the projects engaged students with prototyping a design and/or tool for application at the Universities’ reactor. However, for FY23, the direction of the HCD project had changed to implementing a Tabletop Exercise in Safeguards by Design (SBD). A Tabletop Exercise was not executed during FY23, but relationships with both Universities was maintained and how to integrate the exercise into the curriculum of both programs was determined.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Summary of FY2024 Experimental Results to Support Development of New Inelastic Material Models and Validation of Section III, Division 5, Class A Design Rules

To address the data gap crucial for updating existing viscoplastic constitutive material models for the Class A materials in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 5, High Temperature Reactors (ASME, 2023) for inelastic design analysis, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) conducted experimental studies on Alloy 800H and Alloy 617 across a range of temperatures up to their maximum temperature limits in Section III, Division 5. The studies aim to characterize the materials' deformation behavior under both strain-controlled mechanical cyclic loading and thermal cycling conditions. This report summarizes ORNL's FY 2024 experimental findings on Alloy 800H and Alloy 617, focusing on pure fatigue tests, cyclic stress-strain curves, thermomechanical fatigue experiments, and verification of the high temperature cyclic damage summation design rules.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1992

Controls and guidance research

The objectives of the control group are concentrated on research and education. The control problem of the hypersonic space vehicle represents an important and challenging issue in aerospace engineering. The work described in this report is part of our effort in developing advanced control strategies for such a system. In order to achieve the objectives stated in the NASA-CORE proposal, the tasks were divided among the group based upon their educational expertise. Within the educational component we are offering a Linear Systems and Control course for students in electrical and mechanical engineering. Also, we are proposing a new course in Digital Control Systems with a corresponding laboratory.

Homaifar, Abdollah↗

DOE OSTI2021

Draft ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Cases and Technical Bases for Use of Alloy 617 for Constructions of Nuclear Component Under Section III, Division 5

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code currently only allows five materials for use in construction of nuclear components for high temperature service. These are: 2.25Cr-1Mo and V-modified 9Cr-1Mo steels, Types 304 and 316 stainless steels and the high nickel Alloy 800H. Since 2005, the US high temperature gas-cooled reactor program has been characterizing elevated temperature mechanical properties of Alloy 617 as the leading candidate construction material for the intermediate heat exchanger. After analysis of these experimental results, along with historical data and additional results available through the Generation IV International Forum, Very High Temperature Reactor, Materials Program Management Board Materials Handbook, a draft ASME Code Case to allow nuclear construction with Alloy 617 for temperatures up to 1750°F (954°C) has been developed. This report contains the Code Case for Low Temperature Service Construction of Section III, Division 5, Subsection HB, Subpart A, Class A and Subsection HC, Subpart A, Class B components, which has been approved in Section II, Materials, and Section III, Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components. Supporting technical justification for the low temperature Code Case is also included. This Code Case allows use of Alloy 617 up to 800°F (425°C). This report also contains an updated draft of a Section III, Division 5, Subsection HB, Subpart B, Class A Code Case for Alloy 617 to qualify it for use in construction of nuclear components up to 1750°F (954°C) for service life up to 100,000 hours. The draft contained in Appendix 4, subject to editorial revision and approval by the ASME Special Task Group on Alloy 617 Code Qualification, will be submitted for approval by letter ballot by the appropriate ASME Committees. The technical justification supporting the Code Case is presented in Appendix 5 of this report. This background document is part of the information package that will be submitted with the Code Case for ballot.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NASA NTRS1976

Prefreshman and Cooperative Education Program

Of the 93 students enrolled in the PREFACE program over its four-year history, 70 are still in engineering school. Tables show profiles of student placement and participation from 1973 to 1977 (first semester completed). During the 1977 summer, 10 students were placed at NASA Goddard, 8 at DOE-Brookhaven, and 2 at American Can. Eleven students with less high school math preparation remained on campus for formal precalculus classes. Majors of the students in the program include civil, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Student satisfaction with their training experiences is summarized.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2023

Research Plan and Preliminary Results in Developing the Fabrication Parameters for Alloy 709 in Different Product Forms―Grain Coarsening Temperature Evaluation

The Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART) Program has established a multi-year plan to develop Alloy 709 advanced stainless steel (A709), generate the data package and develop material-specific design parameters in qualifying it as a new structural material for Class A component design in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 5, High Temperature Reactors. In collaboration with material vendors, the Advanced Materials Development activities under ART have successfully scaled the A709 plate form production from a laboratory heat of 500 pounds to commercial heats totaling 133,000 pounds of A709 plate fabricated from three heats. The goal of the overall A709 development program is to establish the necessary microstructural and mechanical properties relationship for A709 to ultimately develop fabrication parameters for other product forms such as bars, piping and forging using the available ART A709 materials. The objective of this A709 development work at ORNL in FY2023 is to experimentally determine grain coarsening behavior for the A709 heats and to experimentally generate the continuous cooling precipitation (CCP) diagram for A709 using the as-rolled commercial heat plate materials. Integral to this work is the characterization of the as-rolled materials and the determination of an effective solution annealing process. This report summarizes the work performed to identify the grain coarsening temperature for commercial heat 58776-3RB fabricated by G. O. Carlson and heat 529900-02 fabricated by Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) Flat Rolled Products.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2026

Towards Thermomechanical Processing of Alloy 709: Progress in Defining High-Temperature Deformation-Recrystallization "Space"

The Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART) Program has established a multi-year plan to develop Alloy 709 advanced stainless steel, generate the data package and develop material-specific design parameters in qualifying it as a new structural material for Class A construction in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 5, High Temperature Reactors (ASME 2025). In collaboration with material vendors, the Advanced Materials Development activities under ART have successfully scaled the Alloy 709 plate form production from a laboratory heat of 500 pounds to commercial heats totaling 133,000 pounds of Alloy 709 plate fabricated from three heats. The goal of the overall Alloy 709 development program is to establish the necessary microstructural and mechanical properties relationship for Alloy 709 to ultimately develop fabrication parameters for other product forms such as bars, pipes, and forgings using the available ART Alloy 709 materials. This study will enable its deployment in the industry as an advanced construction material for high-temperature components. The objective of this Alloy 709 development work in FY 2025 is to experimentally determine the high-temperature deformation-recrystallization response of the Alloy 709 heats and to experimentally generate true stress-true strain data for Alloy 709 using the available commercial heat plate materials. Integral to this work is the previous characterization of the as-rolled materials and the determination of an effective solution-annealing process, which was reported in Y. Wang et al., 2023, and the evaluation of the effect of controlled cooling on the resultant precipitation in these commercial heats. This report summarizes and builds on the results of the previous reports to assess the high-temperature deformation behavior as a function of deformation temperature, strain and strain rate using commercial Alloy 709 heat 58776-3RB fabricated by G. O. Carlson and heat 529900-02 fabricated by Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) Specialty Rolled Products.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗