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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 sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Studying f-Electron Contributions in Thorium and Uranium Containing Molecules

The pure rotational spectra of several actinide-containing compounds have been improved upon and, in two cases, been recorded for the first time. The diatomic molecules HfS and ThS have been studied in their ground electronic states but high vibrationally excited states. The results have yielded very accurate locations of the minima of the potential energy curves. The asymmetric molecules OThS and UO2S have been prepared by laser ablation synthesis and their pure rotational spectra recorded for the first time. Precise information pertinent to the geometric and electronic structure of these molecules has been obtained and is compared with other, newly recorded and related species such as OCeS.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

SPARC: MASS MODELS FOR 175 DISK GALAXIES WITH SPITZER PHOTOMETRY AND ACCURATE ROTATION CURVES

We introduce SPARC ( Spitzer Photometry and Accurate Rotation Curves): a sample of 175 nearby galaxies with new surface photometry at 3.6 μ m and high-quality rotation curves from previous H i/H α studies. SPARC spans a broad range of morphologies (S0 to Irr), luminosities (∼5 dex), and surface brightnesses (∼4 dex). We derive [3.6] surface photometry and study structural relations of stellar and gas disks. We find that both the stellar mass–H i mass relation and the stellar radius–H i radius relation have significant intrinsic scatter, while the H i mass–radius relation is extremely tight. We build detailed mass models and quantify the ratio of baryonic to observed velocity ( V {sub bar}/ V {sub obs}) for different characteristic radii and values of the stellar mass-to-light ratio (ϒ{sub ⋆}) at [3.6]. Assuming ϒ{sub ⋆} ≃ 0.5 M {sub ⊙}/ L {sub ⊙} (as suggested by stellar population models), we find that (i) the gas fraction linearly correlates with total luminosity; (ii) the transition from star-dominated to gas-dominated galaxies roughly corresponds to the transition from spiral galaxies to dwarf irregulars, in line with density wave theory; and (iii) V {sub bar}/ V {sub obs} varies with luminosity and surface brightness: high-mass, high-surface-brightness galaxies are nearly maximal, while low-mass, low-surface-brightness galaxies are submaximal. These basic properties are lost for low values of ϒ{sub ⋆} ≃ 0.2 M {sub ⊙}/ L {sub ⊙} as suggested by the DiskMass survey. The mean maximum-disk limit in bright galaxies is ϒ{sub ⋆} ≃ 0.7 M {sub ⊙}/ L {sub ⊙} at [3.6]. The SPARC data are publicly available and represent an ideal test bed for models of galaxy formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Electromagnetic Signatures from the Tidal Tail of a Black Hole—Neutron Star Merger

Black hole - neutron star (BH-NS) mergers are a major target for ground-based gravitational wave observatories. A merger can also produce an electromagnetic counterpart (a kilonova) if it ejects neutron-rich matter that assembles into heavy elements through r-process nucleosynthesis. We study the kilonova signatures of the unbound dynamical ejecta of a BH-NS merger. We take as our initial state the results from a numerical relativity simulation and then use a general relativistic hydrodynamics code to study the evolution of the ejecta with parameterized r-process heating models. The unbound dynamical ejecta is initially a flattened, directed tidal tail largely confined to a plane. Heating from the r-process inflates the ejecta into a more spherical shape and smooths its small-scale structure, though the ejecta retains its bulk directed motion. We calculate the electromagnetic signatures using a 3D radiative transfer code and a parameterized opacity model for lanthanide-rich matter. The light curve varies with viewing angle because of two effects: asphericity results in brighter emission for orientations with larger projected areas, while Doppler boosting results in brighter emission for viewing angles more aligned with the direction of bulk motion. For typical r-process heating rates, the peak bolometric luminosity varies by a factor of ~3 with orientation while the peak in the optical bands varies by ~3 magnitudes. The spectrum is blueshifted at viewing angles along the bulk motion, which increases the V-band peak magnitude to ~-14 despite the lanthanide-rich composition.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1981

Magnetohydrodynamic interaction of high-speed streams

Numerical solutions of a magnetohydrodynamic model are carried out to describe the nonlinear interaction of corotating high-speed streams near the solar equatorial plane. Two problems are studied. The first problem is to simulate the evolution of an idealized high-speed stream. Numerical solutions are obtained to represent the variations of flow velocity, magnetic field, plasma density, temperature, and conduction heat flux in the interaction region. They demonstrate that the dynamical interaction and heat conduction process are responsible for the thermal structure of a high-speed stream. The second problem deals with the formation of corotating shock waves near the leading edge of a broad stream resulting from the merging of characteristic curves. Corotating shocks do not necessarily occur in pairs; a reverse shock can be formed without a forward shock nearby.

Whang, Y. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Rocket thrust chamber thermal barrier coatings

A research program was conducted to generate data and develop analytical techniques to predict the performance and reliability of ceramic thermal barrier coatings in high heat flux environments. A finite element model was used to analyze the thermomechanical behavior of coating systems in rocket thrust chambers. Candidate coating systems (using a copper substrate, NiCrAlY bond coat and ZrO2.8Y2O3 ceramic overcoat) were selected for detailed study based on photomicrographic evaluations of experimental test specimens. The effects of plasma spray application parameters on the material properties of these coatings were measured and the effects on coating performance evaluated using the finite element model. Coating design curves which define acceptable operating envelopes for seleted coating systems were constructed based on temperature and strain limitations. Spray gun power levels was found to have the most significant effect on coating structure. Three coating systems were selected for study using different power levels. Thermal conductivity, strain tolerance, density, and residual stress were measured for these coatings. Analyses indicated that extremely thin coatings ( 0.02 mm) are required to accommodate the high heat flux of a rocket thrust chamber and ensure structural integrity.

Batakis, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Multiple incidence angle SIR-B experiment over Argentina

The Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B), the second synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to fly aboard a shuttle, was launched on October 5, 1984. One of the primary goals of the SIR-B experiment was to use multiple incidence angle radar images to distinguish different terrain types through the use of their characteristic backscatter curves. This goal was accomplished in several locations including the Chubut Province of southern Argentina. Four descending image acquisitions were collected providing a multiple incidence angle image set. The data were first used to assess stereo-radargrammetric techniques. A digital elevation model was produced using the optimum pair of multiple incidence angle images. This model was then used to determine the local incidence angle of each picture element to generate curves of relative brightness vs. incidence angle. Secondary image products were also generated using the multi-angle data. The results of this work indicate that: (1) various forest species and various structures of a single species may be discriminated using multiple incidence angle radar imagery, and (2) it is essential to consider the variation in backscatter due to a variable incidence angle when analyzing and comparing data collected at varying frequencies and polarizations.

Cimino, Jobea↗
NASA NTRS1986

Correlated observations of impulsive UV and hard X-ray bursts from the solar maximum mission

The spatially resolved UV observations and hard X-ray observations are analyzed in order to study the spatial structure and physical conditions in the UV and hard X-ray sources. The data reveal that impulsive UV emissions and hard X-ray bursts occur in small kernels. Individual light curves for Si IV and hard X-ray emissions are compared and it is detected that the individual peaks in the curves correspond. The dynamic evolution and density diagnostics of the transition zone plasmas are examined.

Cheng, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS2001

ASCA Observation of MS 1603.6+2600 (=UW Coronae Borealis): A Dipping Low-Mass X-ray Binary in the Outer Halo?

MS 1603.6+2600 is a high-latitude X-ray binary with a 111 min orbital period, thought to be either an unusual cataclysmic variable or an unusual low-mass X-ray binary. In an ASCA observation in 1997 August, we find a burst whose light curve suggests a Type 1 (thermonuclear flash) origin. We also find an orbital X-ray modulation in MS 1603.6+2600, which is likely to be periodic dips, presumably due to azimuthal structure in the accretion disk. Both are consistent with this system being a normal low-mass X-ray binary harboring a neutron star, but at a great distance. We tentatively suggest that MS 1603.6+2600 is located in the outer halo of the Milky Way, perhaps associated with the globular cluster Palomar 14, 11 deg away from MS 1603.6+2600 on the sky at an estimated distance of 73.8 kpc.

Mukai, Koji↗
NASA NTRS2003

Applications of Space-Filling-Curves to Cartesian Methods for CFD

This paper presents a variety of novel uses of space-filling-curves (SFCs) for Cartesian mesh methods in CFD. While these techniques will be demonstrated using non-body-fitted Cartesian meshes, many are applicable on general body-fitted meshes-both structured and unstructured. We demonstrate the use of single theta(N log N) SFC-based reordering to produce single-pass (theta(N)) algorithms for mesh partitioning, multigrid coarsening, and inter-mesh interpolation. The intermesh interpolation operator has many practical applications including warm starts on modified geometry, or as an inter-grid transfer operator on remeshed regions in moving-body simulations Exploiting the compact construction of these operators, we further show that these algorithms are highly amenable to parallelization. Examples using the SFC-based mesh partitioner show nearly linear speedup to 640 CPUs even when using multigrid as a smoother. Partition statistics are presented showing that the SFC partitions are, on-average, within 15% of ideal even with only around 50,000 cells in each sub-domain. The inter-mesh interpolation operator also has linear asymptotic complexity and can be used to map a solution with N unknowns to another mesh with M unknowns with theta(M + N) operations. This capability is demonstrated both on moving-body simulations and in mapping solutions to perturbed meshes for control surface deflection or finite-difference-based gradient design methods.

Aftosmis, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Developing a Material Strength Design Value Based on Compression after Impact Damage for the Ares I Composite Interstage

The derivation of design values for compression after impact strength for two types of honeycomb sandwich structures are presented. The sandwich structures in this study had an aluminum core and composite laminate facesheets of either 16-ply quasi or 18-ply directional lay-ups. The results show that a simple power law curve fit to the data can be used to create A- and B-basis residual strength curves.

Nettles, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Flat H Redundant Frangible Joint Development

Orion and Commercial Crew Program (CCP) Partners have chosen to use frangible joints for certain separation events. The joints currently available are zero failure tolerant and will be used in mission safety applications. The goal is to further develop a NASA designed redundant frangible joint that will lower flight risk and increase reliability. FY16 testing revealed a successful design in subscale straight test specimens that gained efficiency and supports Orion load requirements. Approach / Innovation A design constraint is that the redundant joint must fit within the current Orion architecture, without the need for additional vehicle modification. This limitation required a design that changed the orientation of the expanding tube assemblies (XTAs), by rotating them 90deg from the standard joint configuration. The change is not trivial and affects the fracture mechanism and structural load paths. To address these changes, the design incorporates cantilevered arms on the break plate. The shock transmission and expansion of the XTA applies force to these arms and creates a prying motion to push the plate walls outward to the point of structural failure at the notched section. The 2014 test design revealed that parts could slip during functioning wasting valuable energy needed to separate the structure with only a single XTA functioning. Dual XTA functioning fully separated the assembly showing a discrepancy can be backed up with redundancy. Work on other fully redundant systems outside NASA is limited to a few patents that have not been subjected to functionality testing Design changes to prevent unwanted slippage (with ICA funding in 2015) showed success with a single XTA. The main goal for FY 2016 was to send the new Flat H RFJ to WSTF where single XTA test failures occurred back in 2014. The plan was to gain efficiency in this design by separating the Flat H RFJ with thicker ligaments with dimensions baselined in 2014. Other modifications included geometry changes to better disperse loads paths and to minimize air gaps. The design additionally added more structural strength to enhance the structural limits in static loads testing. The design also implemented a smoother load line through the assembly. Results / Knowledge Gained The new Flat H RFJ successfully fractured at WSTF with thicker ligaments and lower cord size. Where failure to separate occurred earlier, there is now excessive energy available for structural separation. The new challenge to provide some structural support to prevent secondary fracturing of the break plate remains to be completed. This future work is being funded by the JSC Engineering Directorate in 2017 to elevate the TRL on curved Flat H RFJs that configure with the Orion Service Panel Separation. Additional funding from JSC Engineering will provide new design testing to avoid secondary fracturing.

Brown, Chris↗
DOE OSTI2020

Catalytic Oxidation of CO on a Curved Pt(111) Surface: Simultaneous Ignition at All Facets through a Transient CO-O Complex

The light-off of the CO oxidation is simultaneous on all Pt crystal surfaces vicinal to the (111) plane, regardless of the reaction conditions, and in contrast with the structural dependence of Pd. In this work, using ambient-pressure XPS we find that, immediately prior to ignition, atomic oxygen incorporates to the subsurface plane, leading to buckling of the topmost CO-Pt layer, and effectively equaling the CO desorption temperature at terraces and steps.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Shallow three-dimensional structure of the San Jacinto fault zone revealed from ambient noise imaging with a dense seismic array

In this work, we use 1 month of continuous seismic waveforms from a very dense seismic network to image with unprecedented resolution the shallow damage structure of the San Jacinto fault zone across the Clark fault strand. After calculating noise correlations, high apparent velocity arrivals coming from below the array are removed using a frequency–wavenumber filter. This is followed by a double-beamforming analysis on multiple pairs of subarrays to extract phase and group velocity information across the study area. The phase and group velocity dispersion curves are regionalized into phase and group velocity maps at different frequencies, and these maps are inverted using a neighbourhood algorithm to build a 3-D shear wave velocity model around the Clark fault down to ~500 m depth. The model reveals strong lateral variations across the fault strike with pronounced low-velocity zones corresponding to a local sedimentary basin and a fault zone trapping structure. The results complement previous earthquake- and seismic noise-based imaging of the fault zone at greater depth and clarify properties of structural features near the surface.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1985

Thermal stress cycling of GaAs solar cells

A thermal cycling experiment was performed on GaAs solar cells to establish the electrical and structural integrity of these cells under the temperature conditions of a simulated low-Earth orbit of 3-year duration. Thirty single junction GaAs cells were obtained and tests were performed to establish the beginning-of-life characteristics of these cells. The tests consisted of cell I-V power output curves, from which were obtained short-circuit current, open circuit voltage, fill factor, and cell efficiency, and optical micrographs, spectral response, and ion microprobe mass analysis (IMMA) depth profiles on both the front surfaces and the front metallic contacts of the cells. Following 5,000 thermal cycles, the performance of the cells was reexamined in addition to any factors which might contribute to performance degradation. It is established that, after 5,000 thermal cycles, the cells retain their power output with no loss of structural integrity or change in physical appearance.

Janousek, B. K.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electrical and photoelectric properties of Si-based metal–insulator–semiconductor structures with Au nanoparticles at the insulator–semiconductor interface

It is shown that the formation of Au nanoparticles at the insulator–silicon interface in structures with a high density of surface states results in a shift of the Fermi-level pinning energy at this interface towards the valence-band ceiling in silicon and in increasing the surface-state density at energies close to the Fermi level. In this case, a band with a peak at 0.85 eV arises on the photosensivity curves of the capacitor photovoltage, which is explained by the photoemission of electrons from the formed Au-nanoparticle electron states near the valence-band ceiling in silicon.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Structural and thermoelectric properties of zintl-phase CaLiPn (Pn=As, Sb, Bi)

First-principles calculations were carried out to study the structural, mechanical, dynamical and transport properties of zintl phase materials CaLiPn (Pn=As, Sb and Bi). We have used two different approaches to solve the system based on density functional theory. The plane wave pseudopotential approach has been used to study the structural and dynamical properties whereas, full potential linear augment plane wave method is used to examine the electronic structure, mechanical and thermoelectric properties. The calculated ground-state properties agree quite well with experimental values. The computed electronic structure shows the investigated compounds to be direct band gap semiconductors. Further, we have calculated the thermoelectric properties of all the investigated compounds for both the carriers at various temperatures. We found a high thermopower for both the carriers, especially n-type doping to be more favourable, which enabled us to predict that CaLiPn might have promising applications as a good thermoelectric material. Further, the phonon dispersion curves of the investigated compounds showed flat phonon modes and we also find lower optical and acoustic modes to cut each other at the lower frequency range, which further indicate the investigated compounds to possess reasonably low thermal conductivity. We have also analysed the low value of the thermal conductivity through the empirical relations and discussions are presented here. - Highlights: • Electronic band structure and chemical bonding. • Single crystalline elastic constants and poly crystalline elastic moduli. • Thermoelectric properties of zintl phase. • Lattice dynamics and phonon density of states.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Show Me the Money! Evaluating A Graduated Incentive Structure to Keep Respondents Engaged Through 101 Surveys in 28 Days

We report the results of a survey test conducted in advance of a series of community response tests (CRTs) to evaluate response to noise from NASA’s X-59 aircraft. The CRTs will require a substantial number of observations to generate a dose response curve for noise exposure and related annoyance levels and the timeframe is limited due to resource and scheduling constraints with an experimental aircraft. Within each CRT area, we will recruit a sample of residents in advance and ask them to fill out a brief survey each time the aircraft passes over. Respondents will be asked to fill out the survey either on the web or as part of an application they are able to download onto their mobile phones. Respondents will be notified each time the plane flies over, asking for their reactions. On many days, respondents will be asked to fill out the survey for multiple flights. Typical incentives are used during the recruitment phase (pre-incentive for a household screener and post-paid for a background survey completed by the selected respondent) and post-paid for an end of study survey. To improve response rates over such a demanding survey schedule (101 surveys in 28 days) we will implement a weekly incentive based upon participation rates, with higher incentives for greater participation and increasing rates each week. The survey test will follow the proposed methodology of the CRTs. We will report on the participation rates by incentive amount and the effectiveness of the incentive structure in obtaining and maintaining response rates over the 4 weeks. We will examine how quickly participation fades over the 4-week period and consider whether the incentive schedule could be improved by altering the distribution of payments. Finally, we will compare how these rates varied across web and app respondents. We will use the results of this work to confirm or improve the design of the CRTs, ensuring the collection of data needed by NASA to evaluate the impact of this innovative technology.

incentives↗
DOE OSTI2018

Hydrodynamic flows on curved surfaces: Spectral numerical methods for radial manifold shapes

We formulate hydrodynamic equations and spectrally accurate numerical methods for investigating the role of geometry in flows within two-dimensional fluid interfaces. To achieve numerical approximations having high precision and level of symmetry for radial manifold shapes, we develop spectral Galerkin methods based on hyperinterpolation with Lebedev quadratures for L 2 -projection to spherical harmonics. We demonstrate our methods by investigating hydrodynamic responses as the surface geometry is varied. Relative to the case of a sphere, we find significant changes can occur in the observed hydrodynamic flow responses as exhibited by quantitative and topological transitions in the structure of the flow. We present numerical results based on the Rayleigh-Dissipation principle to gain further insights into these flow responses. We explore the roles played by the geometry especially concerning the positive and negative Gaussian curvature of the interface. We offer general approaches for taking geometric effects into account for investigations of hydrodynamic phenomena within curved fluid interfaces.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

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