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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 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Dynamical System Scaling Application to Zircaloy Cladding Thermal Response During Reactivity-Initiated Accident Experiment

New fuel design and development currently requires 20 to 25 years to be qualified for use by the nuclear power industry. The thermal-hydraulics community has taken advantage of scaling theory to design reduced scale experiments that correctly preserve dominant key phenomena while quantifying distorted phenomena. These techniques can be leveraged in the design and analysis of fuel performance experiments to help reduce the timeline associated with fuel design and development. This study uses the Dynamical System Scaling (DSS) method to analyze cladding temperature data from the recent SETH-C experiment in the TREAT facility and accompanying BISON simulations to assess dynamic distortions occurring throughout the fast power excursion transient. The DSS analysis revealed that on the cool down from peak cladding temperature that the fuel radial power profile is the most sensitive modeling parameter with a heterogenous radial peaking factor corresponding to the lowest distortion compared to a uniform energy deposition. For the heat up to peak cladding temperature the heterogeneous radial power profile corresponded to the shortest process action. Finally, for the heat up to peak cladding temperature, the gap conductance model sensitivity was quantified using process action and shows that the default Light Water Reactor gap conductance model corresponded to the longest process action.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Calculating the two-photon exchange contribution to K L → μ + μ − decay

We present a theoretical framework within which both the real and imaginary parts of the complex, two-photon exchange amplitude contributing to K L → μ + μ − decay can be calculated using lattice quantum chromodynamics. The real part of this two-photon amplitude is of approximately the same size as that coming from a second-order weak strangeness-changing neutral-current process. Thus a test of the standard model prediction for this second-order weak process depends on an accurate result of this two-photon amplitude. A limiting factor of our proposed method comes from low-energy three-particle π π γ states. The contribution from these states will be significantly distorted by the finite volume of our calculation—a distortion for which there is no available correction. However, a simple estimate of the contribution of these three-particle states suggests their contribution to be at most a few percent allowing their neglect in a lattice calculation with a 10% target accuracy. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

H420 Imager Calibration Procedure: Field of View Scan

Gamma-ray imagers with coded apertures have a finite field of view (FOV) within which an image of a source can be generated. A “FOV scan” is a facet of imager calibration procedure that involves collecting specialized data for a range of source locations filling the FOV in order to understand and correct for differences in imager performance. Systematic distortions reveal relative displacements between internal imager components, which can be accounted for in data analysis. The success of this scan requires a stable imager position during the full measurement duration (~hours). This document summarizes the hardware and software tools required to conduct a FOV calibration scan of an H3D H420 Coded Aperture Gamma-Ray Imager.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1969

VICAR-DIGITAL image processing system

Computer program corrects various photometic, geometric and frequency response distortions in pictures. The program converts pictures to a number of elements, with each elements optical density quantized to a numerical value. The translated picture is recorded on magnetic tape in digital form for subsequent processing and enhancement by computer.

Billingsley, F.↗
NASA NTRS2010

CFD Models of a Serpentine Inlet, Fan, and Nozzle

Several computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes were used to analyze the Versatile Integrated Inlet Propulsion Aerodynamics Rig (VIIPAR) located at NASA Glenn Research Center. The rig consists of a serpentine inlet, a rake assembly, inlet guide vanes, a 12-in. diameter tip-turbine driven fan stage, exit rakes or probes, and an exhaust nozzle with a translating centerbody. The analyses were done to develop computational capabilities for modeling inlet/fan interaction and to help interpret experimental data. Three-dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) calculations of the fan stage were used to predict the operating line of the stage, the effects of leakage from the turbine stream, and the effects of inlet guide vane (IGV) setting angle. Coupled axisymmetric calculations of a bellmouth, fan, and nozzle were used to develop techniques for coupling codes together and to investigate possible effects of the nozzle on the fan. RANS calculations of the serpentine inlet were coupled to Euler calculations of the fan to investigate the complete inlet/fan system. Computed wall static pressures along the inlet centerline agreed reasonably well with experimental data but computed total pressures at the aerodynamic interface plane (AIP) showed significant differences from the data. Inlet distortion was shown to reduce the fan corrected flow and pressure ratio, and was not completely eliminated by passage through the fan

Chima, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Producing Science-Ready Radar Datasets for the Retrieval of Forest Structure Parameters from Backscatter: Correcting for Terrain Topography and Changes in Vegetation Reflectivity

Radar backscatter data contain both geometric and radiometric distortions due to underlying topography and the radar viewing geometry. Our objective is to develop a radiometric correction algorithm specific to the UAVSAR system configuration that would improve retrieval of forest structure parameters. UAVSAR is an airborne Lband radar capable of repeat?pass interferometry producing images with a spatial resolution of 5m. It is characterized by an electronically steerable antenna to compensate for aircraft attitude. Thus, the computation of viewing angles (i.e. look, incidence and projection) must include aircraft attitude angles (i.e. yaw, pitch and roll) in addition to the antenna steering angle. In this presentation, we address two components of radiometric correction: area projection and vegetation reflectivity. The first correction is applied by normalization of the radar backscatter by the local ground area illuminated by the radar beam. The second is a correction due to changes in vegetation reflectivity with viewing geometry.

polarimetry↗
NASA NTRS2015

Adjustable Grazing-Incidence X-Ray Optics

With its unique subarcsecond imaging performance, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory illustrates the importance of fine angular resolution for x-ray astronomy. Indeed, the future of x-ray astronomy relies upon x-ray telescopes with comparable angular resolution but larger aperture areas. Combined with the special requirements of nested grazing-incidence optics, mass, and envelope constraints of space-borne telescopes render such advances technologically and programmatically challenging. The goal of this technology research is to enable the cost-effective fabrication of large-area, lightweight grazing-incidence x-ray optics with subarcsecond resolution. Toward this end, the project is developing active x-ray optics using slumped-glass mirrors with thin-film piezoelectric arrays for correction of intrinsic or mount-induced distortions.

O'Dell, Stephen L.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Optical Performance Prediction of the Thirty Meter Telescope after Initial Alignment Using Optical Modeling

We present an estimate of the optical performance of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) after execution of the full telescope alignment plan. The TMT alignment is performed by the Global Metrology System (GMS) and the Alignment and Phasing System (APS). The GMS first measures the locations of the telescope optics and instruments as a function of elevation angle. These initial measurements will be used to adjust the optics positions and build initial elevation look-up tables. Then the telescope is aligned using starlight as the input for the APS at multiple elevation angles. APS measurements are used to refine the telescope alignment to build elevation and temperature dependent look-up tables. Due to the number of degrees of freedom in the telescope (over 10,000), the ability of the primary mirror to correct aberrations on other optics, the tight optical performance requirements and the multiple instrument locations, it is challenging to develop, test and validate these alignment procedures. In this paper, we consider several GMS and APS operational scenarios. We apply the alignment procedures to the model-generated TMT, which consists of various quasi-static errors such as polishing errors, passive supports errors, thermal and gravity deformations and installation position errors. Using an integrated optical model and Monte-Carlo framework, we evaluate the TMT’s aligned states using optical performance metrics at multiple instrument and field of view locations. The optical performance metrics include the Normalized Point Source Sensitivity (PSSN), RMS wavefront error before and after Adaptive Optics (AO) correction, pupil position change, and plate scale distortion.

Rogers, John↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modeling and control of cascaded bridgeless multilevel rectifier under unbalanced load conditions

The goal of this project is to model and control a novel unidirectional cascaded multilevel bridgeless rectifier as an active front end in medium and high voltage applications. This topology has many advantages over a conventional cascaded H-bridge rectifier, such as lower implementation cost, higher reliability, and greater flexibility with similar power quality. The complete design process of the proposed converter is developed step by step in order to meet all the desired objectives. The steady-state mathematical model is used to develop a method for the voltage balancing of dc cells. Power factor analysis is discussed to mathematically derive requirements for the number of partially controlled and fully controlled H-bridges in the proposed H-bridge converter. Power loss, efficiency, and cost comparison studies between the traditional cascaded H-Bridge converter and the proposed bridgeless converter demonstrate the advantages. After exploring various well-established control methods, a novel control strategy is proposed to achieve dc voltage balancing, fast and robust grid synchronization, power factor correction, and elimination of zero crossing current distortion under both balanced and unbalanced load conditions. The converter can also be used for reactive power compensation in a grid tied power system if a sufficient number of fully controlled H-bridge modules are included. Processor-In-the-Loop (PIL) simulation has been the utilized to validate the performance of discrete control structure. Simulation and experimental results validate the models and control method.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1957

Total-Pressure Distortion and Recovery of Supersonic Nose Inlet with Conical Centerbody in Subsonic Icing Conditions

Ice was formed on a full-scale unheated supersonic nose inlet in the NACA Lewis icing tunnel to determine its effect on compressor-face total-pressure distortion and recovery.Inlet angle of attack was varied from 0degrees to 12 degrees, free-stream Mach number from 0.17 to 0.28, and compressor-face Mach number from 0.10 to 0.47. Icing-cloud liquid-water content was varied from 0.65 to 1.8 grams per cubic meter at free-stream static air temperatures of 15 degrees and 0 degrees F. The addition of ice to the inlet components increased total-pressure-distortion levels and decreased recovery values compared withclear0air results, the losses increasing with time in ice. The combination of glaze ice, high corrected weight flow, and high angle of attack yielded the highest levels of distortion and lowest values of recovery. The general character of compressor-face distortion with an iced inlet was the same as that for the clean inlet, the total-pressure gradients being predominantly radial, with circumferential gradients occurring at angle of attack. At zero angle of attack, free-stream Mach number of 0.27, and a constant corrected weight flow of 150 pounds per second (compressor-face Mach number of 0.43), compressor-face total-pressure-distortion level increased from about 6 percent in clear air to 12 percent after 21 minutes of heavy glaze icing; concurrently, total-pressure recovery decreased from about 0.98 to 0.945. For the same operating conditions but with the inlet at 12 deg angle of attack, a change in distortion level occurred from about 9 percent in clear air to 14 percent after 2-1/4 minutes of icing, with a decrease in recovery from about 0.97 to 0.94.

Gelder, Thomas F↗
DOE OSTI2025

Photoionization of the O 2 molecule

Ground state total and partial photoionization cross sections of the O 2 molecule have been produced with the configuration-average distorted-wave (CADW) approximation, and an energy-corrected pseudo independent-atom (PIA) method. The PIA approach is based on molecular orbitals expressed as a linear combination of atomic orbitals, and utilizes the corresponding atomic-orbital photoionization cross sections. Here we use an energy-corrected PIA approach with atomic photoionization cross sections computed using a CADW method. Our results are found to be in good agreement with photoionization measurements across a wide photon energy range, and in reasonably good agreement with the CADW calculations.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

CHESS 2025: Orthorectified airborne RGB imagery from NEON AOP surveys

This dataset provides Level 1 (L1) and Level 3 (L3) orthorectified Red-Green-Blue (RGB) imagery collected for the 2025 Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS). This high-resolution imagery is a photographic record of red, green, and blue visible light from sunlight reflected off of the Earth’s surface. The data comprise full-color images of the ground surface and are primarily intended to provide context to imaging spectroscopy and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. The data were acquired over three study domains in the Upper Gunnison river basin: the upper East River watershed (CRBU); Almont Triangle and Taylor Canyon (ALMO); and Upper Taylor River watershed (UPTA) between 2025-06-13 and 2025-07-15. RGB images were acquired using the PhaseOne IXM-RS150F high-resolution digital camera onboard the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Airborne Observation Platform (AOP). The package data include both an L1 product comprising one camera frame per file and an L3 mosaic aligned to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 13N grid and the World Geodetic System (WGS) 84 projection. Both products are provided in geotif (.tif) format at 0.1 m ground resolution. The bulk of the imagery was collected during the main CHESS field campaign from June 13 to July 15, 2025. Additional images of a portion of the Upper Taylor (UPTA) domain were collected on September 18, 2025, to fill gaps in imagery identified after the main campaign was complete. RGB camera imagery is not radiometrically calibrated, and therefore pixel values should not be exploited for scientific analysis. Pixel values have undergone a manual adjustment to enhance feature identification. The imagery is rigorously geolocated which does allow for reliable geometric information to be retrieved. To generate the orthorectified imagery, the NEON AOP camera captured visible spectrum in red, green, and blue bands. The raw images were then processed using NEON’s camera orthorectification workflow. A boresight calibration flight was made to build a complete camera, distortion, and alignment model. Color balance/white balance and exposure correction were applied to the raw RGB images. The corrected images were orthorectified by ray-tracing image pixels to a lidar-derived digital surface model (DSM) mesh using the refined camera model, outputting orthorectified raster pixels on a regular grid. Flightline-level data were mosaicked by selecting per-pixel contributions from overlapping orthorectified images using line-of-sight (LOS) zenith angle minimization to reduce edge distortions. CHESS Project Description: The Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) comprised a multi-week airborne remote sensing and field observation campaign in the Upper Gunnison Basin, Colorado, conducted in June and July of 2025. Airborne remote sensing was conducted by the National Ecological Observatory Network Airborne Observation Platform (NEON AOP), concurrent with a field campaign run by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Watershed Function Science Focus Area (SFA), and NASA-JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) program. Between June 10 and July 18, 2025, the NEON AOP flight team collected high-resolution aerial imaging spectroscopy and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data over three domains: the Upper East River (CRBU), Almont Triangle (ALMO), and the Upper Taylor Basin (UPTA). In coordination with the flights, a field campaign acquired ground-truth observations, including observations of vegetation composition, foliar traits, forest demography, and subsurface properties in 18 core sampling areas within the domains. Additional surface water observations were taken at over 380 point locations. All CHESS campaign datasets can be found within the CHESS ESS-DIVE data portal: https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/chess. Funding Acknowledgement: Field and remote-sensing data acquisition was performed under a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NSSC24K1005). This work was also supported by the Watershed Function Science Focus Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

2018 NEON and 2025 CHESS Campaigns↗
NASA NTRS2014

Scientific Impact of MODIS C5 Calibration Degradation and C6+ Improvements

The Collection 6 (C6) MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) land and atmosphere data sets are scheduled for release in 2014. C6 contains significant revisions of the calibration approach to account for sensor aging. This analysis documents the presence of systematic temporal trends in the visible and near-infrared (500 m) bands of the Collection 5 (C5) MODIS Terra and, to lesser extent, in MODIS Aqua geophysical data sets. Sensor degradation is largest in the blue band (B3) of the MODIS sensor on Terra and decreases with wavelength. Calibration degradation causes negative global trends in multiple MODIS C5 products including the dark target algorithm's aerosol optical depth over land and Ångstrom exponent over the ocean, global liquid water and ice cloud optical thickness, as well as surface reflectance and vegetation indices, including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). As the C5 production will be maintained for another year in parallel with C6, one objective of this paper is to raise awareness of the calibration-related trends for the broad MODIS user community. The new C6 calibration approach removes major calibrations trends in the Level 1B (L1B) data. This paper also introduces an enhanced C6C calibration of the MODIS data set which includes an additional polarization correction (PC) to compensate for the increased polarization sensitivity of MODIS Terra since about 2007, as well as detrending and Terra- Aqua cross-calibration over quasi-stable desert calibration sites. The PC algorithm, developed by the MODIS ocean biology processing group (OBPG), removes residual scan angle, mirror side and seasonal biases from aerosol and surface reflectance (SR) records along with spectral distortions of SR. Using the multiangle implementation of atmospheric correction (MAIAC) algorithm over deserts, we have also developed a detrending and cross-calibration method which removes residual decadal trends on the order of several tenths of 1% of the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance in the visible and near-infrared MODIS bands B1-B4, and provides a good consistency between the two MODIS sensors. MAIAC analysis over the southern USA shows that the C6C approach removed an additional negative decadal trend of Terra (Delta)NDVI approx.0.01 as compared to Aqua data. This change is particularly important for analysis of vegetation dynamics and trends in the tropics, e.g., Amazon rainforest, where the morning orbit of Terra provides considerably more cloud-free observations compared to the afternoon Aqua measurements.

Terra and Aqua↗
DOE OSTI2022

Multispectral and Thermal Imager Onboard Aerial Platforms Instrument Handbook

The MicaSense Altum imager is an off-the-shelf, synchronized multispectral and thermal camera, combined with a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and downwelling light sensor (DLS). The Altum takes images of the land surface within its field of view (FOV) across five visible bands and one longwave infrared thermal band. The sensor records the radiance and converts it to digital numbers. Imagery is radiometrically corrected, taking into account the sensor calibration, lens distortions, vignette effects, sun angle, and atmospheric effects (scattering and absorption). The photogrammetry software Agisoft PhotoScan v 1.4 is used to align and stitch the images into a larger composite image using the technique of structure from motion image capture to construct a dense cloud and 3D model of the surface, which is used to produce a digital elevation model of the terrain surveyed and orthomosaic imagery. Land surface leaf area index, albedo, and surface skin temperature are provided for the user. The user can perform raster calculations on the imagery to produce various other vegetative indices, which are used to indicate plant health and land surface characteristics, including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), surface temperature, and Enhanced_vegetation_index (EVI). This code is provided with the readme file for each data set. The images have a resolution of 20-60 cm/pixel, which are subsampled to 100 cm/pixel.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1972

Thermal analog device reduces machining errors

Thermal analog devices predict thermal expansion and contraction of machine structures subjected to various heat inputs. Analog devices correct positioning of machine tools to compensate for distortion of machine frame.

Mcclure, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Precision annotation of predetermined primary sampling units on ERTS-1 MSS images

Resectioning programs were developed for projecting the boundary corners of sample units, management units, and counties into U2 RC-10 and ERTS-1 MSS images. The technique used includes corrections for earth curvature, terrain elevation, and MSS distortions. The minimum standard error obtained was about 0.15 mm or 150 meters on the ground. This technique now makes it possible to include land ownership as an integral part of forest resource sampling plans using ERTS imagery.

Vanroessel, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Summary of flight performance of the Skylab Earth Resources Experiment Package /EREP/

A group of six remote sensor systems (sensing visible, infrared, and microwave radiation) known as the Earth Resources Experiment Package (EREP) was flown on the NASA Skylab spacecraft to furnish data to numerous investigators in the earth sciences and in technology assessment. Inflight sensor performance in three categories (functional, geometric, and radiometric) was evaluated using: (1) ground measurements of surface, atmospheric, and illumination parameters; (2) ground deployment and operation of microwave receivers and transponders to monitor and excite the active EREP sensors; (3) measurement of surface and atmospheric parameters by instrumented aircraft on underflights of Skylab passes; and (4) analysis of the actual flight data. This resulted in identification and correction of anomalous sensor operation, quantization of geometric distortions or aberrations, improvement or confirmation of calibrations, and determination of sensitivity, accuracy, and stability of the sensors.

Potter, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Effect of steady-state pressure distortion on inlet flow to a high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine

Static pressure and total pressure distributions were measured in the inlet duct upstream of the engine inlet and within the fan and compressor of a YTF34 turbofan engine. In addition, the free stream flow angle was measured between the distortion generator and the engine inlet. Distortions were generated using three screen configurations with extents of 90 deg or 180 deg. The screens were mounted on a rotatable screen assembly. Reynolds number index upstream of the distortion device was maintained at 0.5 or 0.2, and engine fan speed corrected to station 2 temperature was maintained at 80 or 90 percent of rated condition (7005 rpm). Flow angle was nearly constant near the distortion device and increased as flow approached the engine inlet. The largest flow angle occurred in the hub region of the engine inlet. Static pressure distortion along the inlet duct increased exponentially as the flow approached the engine. Both static pressure and total pressure distortions were attenuated between engine inlet and compressor exit.

Soeder, R. H.↗