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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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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Fractal Nanostructured Solar Selective Surfaces for Next Gen Concentrating Solar Power (Final Report)

This project reports a novel coating with enhanced solar absorptance and reduced thermal emittance with high efficiency at elevated temperature for next-generation concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, with targeted operating temperatures around 750°C. Highly textured single and multimetallic oxide coatings were electrodeposited onto Inconel substrate by systematically varying the composition and process parameters. The optimized coating exhibited micro-to-nano structures designed to match the wavelengths in the visible region of the solar spectrum. These structures facilitate resonant absorption of solar radiation, significantly boosting solar absorption and accommodating thermal stress during high temperature exposure. A high solar absorptance exceeding 0.985 and a low thermal emittance below 0.5, yielding a thermal efficiency near 95%, was achieved for the optimized coatings without any anti-reflective overcoat, that remained robust after 750 h of isothermal exposure to 750°C in air. The coatings are also robust to severe mechanical and environmental stressors. The innovative approach presented in this study demonstrates the potential for tailoring air-stable solar absorber coatings to achieve high absorption, low emittance, and excellent high-temperature endurance, meeting the rigorous demands of next-generation CSP systems. A technoeconomic analysis reveals the economic advantage of the coatings for Gen3 CSP installations in different geographical zones globally.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Generating a Fractal Microstructure of Laminin-111 to Signal to Cells

Laminin-111 (Ln1) is an essential part of the extracellular matrix in epithelia, muscle and neural systems. We have previously demonstrated that the microstructure of Ln1 alters the way that it signals to cells, possibly because Ln1 assembly into networks exposes different adhesive domains. In this paper, we describe three methods to generate polymerized Ln1.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1988

Fractal features of sea surface manifested in microwave remote sensing signatures

The wave number spectrum of a well developed sea includes a broad range of wavenumbers (the equilibrium range) where the spectral density is governed by a power law, k exp p. In the approximation of a Gaussian surface, the exponent p is related to the Hausdorff dimension. For p less than 4 the Hausdorff dimension is greater than 2 and the surface is characterized by an increased number of steep and breaking wavelets and by an increased number of specular points at near vertical incidence. The former results in the so-called spike component in the total return at oblique incidence, whereas the latter leads to an increased backscatter at nadir and near-nadir angles. Theory for both cases is reviewed and implications for satellite scatterometer and altimeter measurements of surface winds are discussed.

Glazman, Roman E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Beyond maximum entropy: Fractal pixon-based image reconstruction

We have developed a new Bayesian image reconstruction method that has been shown to be superior to the best implementations of other methods, including Goodness-of-Fit (e.g. Least-Squares and Lucy-Richardson) and Maximum Entropy (ME). Our new method is based on the concept of the pixon, the fundamental, indivisible unit of picture information. Use of the pixon concept provides an improved image model, resulting in an image prior which is superior to that of standard ME.

Puetter, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Atmospheric Condensational Properties of Ultrafine Chain and Fractal Aerosol Particles

The purpose for the research sponsored by this grant was to lay the foundations for qualitative understanding and quantitative description of the equilibrium vapor pressure of water vapor over the irregularly shaped, carbonaceous particles that are present in the atmosphere. This work apparently was the first systematic treatment of the subject. Research was conducted in two complementary components: 1. Calculations were performed of the equilibrium vapor pressure of water over particles comprised of aggregates of spheres in the 50-200 nm radius range. The purposes of this work were two-fold. First, since no systematic treatment of this subject had previously been conducted, its availability would be directly useful for quantitative treatment for a limited range of atmospheric aerosols. Second, it would provide qualitative indications of the effects of highly irregular particle shape on equilibrium vapor pressure of aggregates comprised of smaller spheres.

Marlow, William H.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Fractal Characterization of Multitemporal Scaled Remote Sensing Data

Scale is an "innate" concept in geographic information systems. It is recognized as something that is intrinsic to the ingestion, storage, manipulation, analysis, modeling, and output of space and time data within a GIS purview, yet the relative meaning and ramifications of scaling spatial and temporal data from this perspective remain enigmatic. As GISs become more sophisticated as a product of more robust software and more powerful computer systems, there is an urgent need to examine the issue of scale, and its relationship to the whole body of spatiotemporal data, as imparted in GISS. Scale is fundamental to the characterization of geo-spatial data as represented in GISS, but we have relatively little insight on the effects of, or how to measure the effects of, scale in representing multiscaled data; i.e., data that are acquired in different formats (e.g., map, digital) and exist in varying spatial, temporal, and in the case of remote sensing data, radiometric, configurations. This is particularly true in the emerging era of Integrated GISs (IGIS), wherein spatial data in a variety of formats (e.g., raster, vector) are combined with multiscaled remote sensing data, capable of performing highly sophisticated space-time data analyses and modeling. Moreover, the complexities associated with the integration of multiscaled data sets in a multitude of formats are exacerbated by the confusion of what the term "scale" is from a multidisciplinary perspective; i.e., "scale" takes on significantly different meanings depending upon one's disciplinary background and spatial perspective which can lead to substantive confusion in the input, manipulation, analyses, and output of IGISs (Quattrochi, 1993). Hence, we must begin to look at the universality of scale and begin to develop the theory, methods, and techniques necessary to advance knowledge on the "Science of Scale" across a wide number of spatial disciplines that use GISs.

Quattrochi, Dale A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Fractal Characterization of Multitemporal Remote Sensing Data

Scale is an "innate" concept in geographic information systems. It is recognized as something that is intrinsic to the capture, storage, manipulation, analysis, modeling, and output of space and time data within a GIS purview, yet the relative meaning and ramifications of scaling spatial and temporal data from this perspective remain enigmatic. As GISs become more sophisticated as a product of more robust software and more powerful computer systems, there is an urgent need to examine the issue of scale, and its relationship to the whole body of spatiotemporal data, as imparted in GISs. Scale is fundamental to the characterization of geo-spatial data as represented in GISs, but we have relatively little insight on how to measure the effects of scale in representing data that are acquired in different formats and exist in varying spatial, temporal and radiometric configurations. Moreover, the complexities associated with the integration of multiscaled data sets in a multitude of formats are exacerbated by the confusion of what the term "scale" is from a multidisciplinary perspective. "Scale" takes on significantly different meanings depending upon one's disciplinary background and spatial perspective which lead to substantial confusion in the input, manipulation, analysis, and output operations. Hence, we must begin to look at the universality of scale and begin to develop the theory, methods, and techniques necessary to advance knowledge on the "Science of Scale' across all disciplines that use GISs.

Quattrochi, Dale A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Fractal Characterization of Multitemporal Remote Sensing Data

Scale is an 'innate' concept in geographical information systems (GIS). It is recognized as something that is intrinsic to the capture, storage, manipulation, analysis, modelling, and output of space and time data within a GIS purview, yet the relative meaning and ramifications of scaling spatial and temporal data from this perspective remain enigmatic. As GIS becomes more sophisticated as a product of more robust software and more powerful computer systems, there is an urgent need to examine the issue of scale, and its relationship to the whole body of spatiotemporal data, as imparted in GIS. Scale is fundamental to the characterization of geo-spatial data as represented in GIS, but we have relatively little insight on how to measure the effects of scale in representing data that are acquired in different formats and exist in varying spatial, temporal and radiometric configurations. Moreover, the complexities associated with the integration of multi-scaled data sets in a multitude of formats are exacerbated by the confusion of what the term 'scale' means from a multidisciplinary perspective. 'Scale' takes on significantly different meanings depending upon one's disciplinary background and spatial perspective, which can lead to substantial confusion in the input, manipulation, analysis, and output operations. Hence, we must begin to look at the universality of scale and begin to develop the theory, methods and techniques necessary to advance knowledge on the 'Science of scale' across all disciplines that use GIS.

Quattrochi, Dale A.↗
NASA NTRS2004

The Fractal-based Analysis of the Regulation of Vascular Remodeling in the Quail Chorioallantoic Membrane

Critical to the advancement of space exploration is the safety and well being of astronauts while in space. This study focuses on the second highest of NASA-defined risk categories for human space exploration, cardiovascular alterations. Current research of this problem is being tackled by investigating angiogenesis through vascular remodeling. Angiogenesis is the growth and formation of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis is an important part of maintaining normal development and bodily functions. The loss of control of this process, either insufficient or excessive vascular growth, is considered a common denominator in many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Objectives are presently being met by observing the effects of various regulators, like thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) and a novel vessel tortuosity factor (TF), through the use of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of Japanese quail embryos, which enables the direct optical imaging of 2-dimensional vascular branching trees. Research within the CAM is being performed to deduce numerous methods of regulating vessel growth. This project centers on the ability of a novel vessel regulator to affect angiogenesis. For example, it is hypothesized that the TSP-1 will inhibit the growth of CAM vasculature. Fractal/VESGEN-based techniques and PTV analysis are the methodologies used to investigate vascular differentiation. This tactic is used to quantify results and measure the growth patterns and morphology of blood vessels. The regulatory mechanisms posed by this vessel regulator can be deduced by alterations found within the vasculature patterns of quail embryos.

Smith, Genee S.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Growth and Remodeling in Blood Vessels Studied In Vivo With Fractal Analysis

Every cell in the human body must reside in close proximity to a blood vessel (within approximately 200 mm) because blood vessels provide the oxygen, metabolite, and fluid exchanges required for cellular existence. The growth and remodeling of blood vessels are required to support the normal physiology of embryonic development, reproductive biology, wound healing and adaptive remodeling to exercise, as well as abnormal tissue change in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Cardiovascular and hemodynamic (blood flow dynamics) alterations experienced by astronauts during long-term spaceflight, including orthostatic intolerance, fluid shifts in the body, and reduced numbers of red (erythrocyte) and white (immune) blood cells, are identified as risk factors of very high priority in the NASA task force report on risk reduction for human spaceflight, the "Critical Path Roadmap."

Parsons-Wingerter, Patricia A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Predicting Fluid Flow Regime, Permeability, and Diffusivity in Mudrocks from Multiscale Pore Characterisation

In geoenergy applications, mudrocks prevent fluids to leak from temporary (H 2 , CH 4 ) or permanent (CO 2 , radioactive waste) storage/disposal sites and serve as a source and reservoir for unconventional oil and gas. Understanding transport properties integrated with dominant fluid flow mechanisms in mudrocks is essential to better predict the performance of mudrocks within these applications. In this study, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments were conducted on 71 samples from 13 different sets of mudrocks across the globe to capture the pore structure of nearly the full pore size spectrum (2 nm–5 μm). We develop fractal models to predict transport properties (permeability and diffusivity) based on the SANS-derived pore size distributions. The results indicate that transport phenomena in mudrocks are intrinsically pore size-dependent. Depending on hydrostatic pore pressures, transition flow develops in micropores, slip flow in meso- and macropores, and continuum flow in larger macropores. Fluid flow regimes progress towards larger pore sizes during reservoir depletion or smaller pore sizes during fluid storage, so when pressure is decreased or increased, respectively. Capturing the heterogeneity of mudrocks by considering fractal dimension and tortuosity fractal dimension for defined pore size ranges, fractal models integrate apparent permeability with slip flow, Darcy permeability with continuum flow, and gas diffusivity with diffusion flow in the matrix. This new model of pore size-dependent transport and integrated transport properties using fractal models yields a systematic approach that can also inform multiscale multi-physics models to better understand fluid flow and transport phenomena in mudrocks on the reservoir and basin scale.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Machine learning-assisted upscaling analysis of reservoir rock core properties based on micro-computed tomography imagery

Optimum solutions for geologic modeling and reservoir simulation in industries such as oil and gas recovery and carbon capture and storage require accurate characterization of reservoir properties, which are often heterogeneous. In this study, high-quality micro-computed tomography (CT) images (1.475-μm/pixel resolution) of a sandstone core acquired from the Bell Creek oil field, USA, were used to provide nondestructive analysis of pore- and core-scale heterogeneity across measurement scales of 94–566 μm. In addition to characterizing the as-received sample, the core sample was flooded with brine to evaluate the capacity of the core sample to receive injected fluids. The micro-CT images were systematically segmented into pore spaces and grains via machine learning (ML) steps including image preprocessing, label creation using a traditional ML method based on limited manual image annotation, and finally U-Net segmentation. The segmented image stacks were reconstructed into digital cubes of various scales of voxel lengths. The 3D porosity values were calculated for all the digital cubes, and the fractal dimensions of the cubes were estimated using a box-counting method. The results showed that smaller cubes had greater heterogeneity and that the porosity values could be accurately estimated by fractal dimension and voxel lengths using ML models. For the core sample with brine flooding, the ratio of pores filled by brine to the total pore space was related to the porosity and could also be accurately estimated by porosity, fractal dimension, and voxel lengths using ML models. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that the concept of fractal dimension can be a useful vector to perform upscaling analysis of sandstone rock heterogeneity from the pore to core scale and that fractal dimensions can be used to estimate porosity values and pore space-filling capacity across those scales.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1989

Statistical geometry of a small surface patch in a developed sea

The fractal and marginal fractal regimes in surface geometry are studied. The basic notions of fractal geometry are applied to a small surface patch in a developed sea, corresponding to the equilibrium wave number spectrum. Topothesy, outer and inner boundaries of the fractal range, and a cascade pattern in surface geometry are discussed. Theoretical predictions of whitecap and foam coverage are presented. A fractal decomposition for a surface patch is developed based on the Karhunen-Loeve expansion. The resulting series formalizes the cascade process of constructing realization of a Gaussian random patch. The implications of the research for microwave remote sensing signatures are considered.

Glazman, Roman E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Cascade model for fluvial geomorphology

Erosional landscapes are generally scale invariant and fractal. Spectral studies provide quantitative confirmation of this statement. Linear theories of erosion will not generate scale-invariant topography. In order to explain the fractal behavior of landscapes a modified Fourier series has been introduced that is the basis for a renormalization approach. A nonlinear dynamical model has been introduced for the decay of the modified Fourier series coefficients that yield a fractal spectra. It is argued that a physical basis for this approach is that a fractal (or nearly fractal) distribution of storms (floods) continually renews erosional features on all scales.

Newman, W. I.↗