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At least 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Nanomechanical testing of freestanding polymer films: in situ tensile testing and Tg measurement

Abstract A method for small-scale testing and imaging of freestanding, microtomed polymer films using a push-to-pull device is presented. Central to this method was the development of a sample preparation technique which utilized solvents at cryogenic temperatures to transfer and deposit delicate thin films onto the microfabricated push-to-pull devices. The preparation of focused ion beam (FIB)-milled tensile specimens enabled quantitative in situ TEM tensile testing, but artifacts associated with ion and electron beam irradiation motivated the development of a FIB-free specimen preparation method. The FIB-free method was enabled by the design and fabrication of oversized strain-locking push-to-pull devices. An adaptation for push-to-pull devices to be compatible with an instrumented nanoindenter expanded the testing capabilities to include in situ heating. These innovations provided quantitative mechanical testing, postmortem TEM imaging, and the ability to measure the glass transition temperature, via dynamic mechanical analysis, of freestanding polymer films. Results for each of these mentioned characterization methods are presented and discussed in terms of polymer nanomechanics. Graphic Abstract

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

RESULTS OF ACCELERATED LIFE TESTING OF LCLS-II CAVITY TUNER MOTOR

An Accelerated Life Test (ALT) of the Phytron stepper motor used in the LCLS-II cavity tuner has been conducted at JLab. Since the motor will reside inside the cryomodule, any failure would lead to a very costly and arduous repair. As such, the motor was tested for the equivalent of 30 lifetimes before being approved for use in the production cryomodules. The 9-cell LCLS-II cavity is simulated by disc springs with an equivalent spring constant. Plots of the motor position vs. tuner position ' measured via an installed linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) ' are used to measure motor motion. The titanium spindle was inspected for loss of lubrication. The motor passed the ALT, and is set to be installed in the LCLS-II cryomodules.

Huque, Naeem↗
DOE OSTI2020

AGR-2 Loose Particle Heating Tests in the Furnace for Irradiated TRISO Testing

A furnace system was developed to thermally expose individual tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) coated particles to expand upon established postirradiation examination (PIE) safety testing that is used to explore particle failures and fission product release from compacts. Two systems were installed in the Irradiated Fuels Examination Facility (IFEL) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The targeted design was intended to be simple and flexible to allow a range in conditions to be explored. Initial inert atmosphere testing indicated the presence of particle failures, so modifications to the testing approach were implemented to improve the furnace operation. Ultimately, burnback particles were analyzed to provide a direct measurement of fission product release, thus avoiding the complications from integral release that were observed during whole compact testing. Particles were exposed to temperatures ranging 1,150–1,300°C for up to 1,500 h and 1,600°C up to 500 h. No indication of uniform release of fission products such as 106 Ru, 125 Sb, or 154 Eu was observed, however, indication of particle dependent 154 Eu release was suggested for select particles. Exploration of 110m Ag release was limited to 1,150°C and 1,300°C up to 500 h. The analysis indicated that there was nonuniform release of 110m Ag and supports a possible bimodal temperature dependence on silver release.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Summary Report for the Anti-Climb Coating Test Project: Simulated Attack and Skid-Resistance Tests

The Sandia National Laboratories Physical Security Center of Excellence (PSCOE) has been tasked by the Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Diplomatic Security Research and Development branch to investigate the potential anti-climb benefits of newly developed skid-resistant paint coatings - one light base and one dark base. DOS is interested in studying the application of the coatings on passive barriers commonly used at diplomatic facilities. The purpose of the anti-climb coating in this context is to deter and delay adversaries from climbing onto the passive barriers. PSCOE was tasked to perform delay testing that focused on the effectiveness of the coatings on the two DOS perimeter passive barriers - the DS-41 anti-ram fence and a 9 foot high by 1 foot thick reinforced concrete wall intended to mimic the DS-30 anti-ram perimeter wall. PSCOE was also tasked in performing skid-resistance testing using a British Pendulum skid-resistance tester. Delay testing and skid-resistance testing were also performed on two different passive barriers without any anti-climb coating to determine a baseline.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) Operations and Testing Report - FY2019

This report documents the operations and testing that was performed at the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) during FY2019. The METL facility had a very successful initial year of operations having logged over 365 days of operations with molten sodium either flowing or static. FY2019 saw the commissioning, insertion, and extraction of the first test assembly in METL. In addition, METL is being prepared to support a second experiment, a thermal hydraulic experiment, called Thermal Hydraulic Experimental Test Article (THETA).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Gear Test Assembly – Experimental Testing and Gear Analysis (FY2021 Year End Report)

The Gear Test Assembly (GTA) is an experimental apparatus designed to test mechanical components used in fuel handling systems of liquid-sodium cooled fast-spectrum nuclear reactors. The performance and lifetime of gears, bearings, and dynamic seals are the primary focus of study. Three experimental campaigns have been completed since the start of operation in 2019, and the GTA is currently assembled and ready to begin the fourth experimental campaign. Sodium operations at the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) have been paused while repairs are made to the Building 308 Alkali Metal Scrubber. This work is nearly complete, and once METL is brought back into operation the GTA will begin sodium testing immediately.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Senior Historian Alan Carr presents Lab-wide talk on testing-Nation’s last weapons test marks 30th anniversary

Join Senior Historian Alan Carr as he presents “Introduction to Nuclear Weapons Testing, 1945 to 1992” in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the nation’s last full-scale nuclear test. Special guest retired Los Alamos test director Ron Cosimi will offer the opening remarks. Attendees will receive an original commemorative poster and can browse a new, temporary Divider test display.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2021

Post-Closure Inspection Report for the Tonopah Test Range and Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada for Calendar Year 2020 (Rev. 0)

This report provides the results of the annual post-closure use restriction (UR) inspections at corrective action sites (CASs) located on the Tonopah Test Range (TTR) and Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). This report covers post-closure UR inspections for calendar year 2020, and includes visual inspections and repair activities completed at the following corrective action units (CAUs): • CAU 407, Roller Coaster RadSafe Area (TTR) • CAU 424, Area 3 Landfill Complexes (TTR) • CAU 453, Area 9 UXO Landfill (TTR) • CAU 487, Thunderwell Site (TTR). Note: CAU 400, Bomblet Pit and Five Points Landfill (TTR) (CASs TA-19-001-05PT, Ordnance Disposal Pit; and TA-55-00-TAB2, Ordnance Disposal Pit) no longer requires inspection and reporting, as described in the Post-Closure Inspection Report for the Tonopah Test Range and Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada for Calendar Year 2019. Site figures are included in Appendix A. The Post-Closure Inspection Plans and Record of Technical Change modifying the requirements for each UR are included in Appendix B. The Post-Closure Inspection Checklists are included in Appendix C. Field Notes are included in Appendix D. Appendix E, Inspection Photographs, does not include photographs because none were taken during the 2020 post-closure inspections. Appendix F, Post-Closure Vegetation Monitoring Report, does not include any data because vegetation monitoring was not conducted or required at any CAU in 2020. Visual inspections were conducted according to the post-closure requirements outlined in specific CAU and CAS URs, and approved by NDEP. The annual post-closure inspections for CASs associated with CAUs 407, 424, 453, and 487 were conducted on May 20, 2020. No maintenance or repair issues were noted at CAUs 487, or at CASs associated with CAU 424 (except CASs 03-08-002-A304 and 03-08-002-A308). Maintenance items and subsequent repairs include the following: • CAU 407, CAS TA-23-001-TARC (Roller Coaster RadSafe Area): A UR sign was loose and was rehung during the inspection. • CAU 424, CAS 03-08-002-A304 (Landfill Cell A3-4): The northeast monument needed a UR sign. The UR sign was attached to the monument on August 11, 2020. • CAU 424, CAS 03-08-002-A308 (Landfill Cell A3-8): The southeast monument needed additional lava rock. The lava rock was added during the inspection. • CAU 453, CAS 09-55-001-0952 (Area 9 Landfill): Two animal burrows were noted in the western portion of the northern and southern trenches (one burrow per trench). The animal burrows were repaired on August 11, 2020.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Test Site Verification Team: Optimal and Nominal Nuclear-Testing Programs [Slides]

Objectives of the Optimal and Nominal Nuclear-Testing Programs: Define optimal and nominal nuclear-testing programs; Discuss underground development for nuclear operations; Discuss underground nuclear operations, safety, and health; Compare drift complexes of optimal and nominal testing programs; Compare drift complexes for nuclear testing and commercial production; Discuss a potential future look of underground development and operations.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cold Test Results of Pre-Production PIP-II SSR2 Cavities with High-Power Coupler in the Fermilab Spoke Test Cryostat

As part of the PIP-II project at Fermilab, a pre-production cryomodule featuring 325 MHz Single Spoke Resonator type 2 (SSR2) superconducting RF cavities is under construction. These SSR2 cavities are fabricated by industry partners and undergo initial cold testing at our collaborating institution, IJCLab in France, utilizing low-power coupler. Subsequently, the cavities are subjected to final qualification at Fermilab, complete with tuner and high-power coupler assemblies. This paper provides an overview of the ongoing efforts dedicated to high-power testing of jacketed SSR2 cavities in the Spoke Test Cryostat (STC) at Fermilab. Performance parameters obtained from these tests are presented, offering valuable insights into the cavities operational characteristics and readiness for integration into the PIP-II cryomodule.

Sukhanov, A.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Test Plan for DOE-GENIORS Dyanamic Irradiation Tests

Dynamic irradiation tests will be performed within the DOE-GENIORS collaboration, to be finished by the end of March 2021. These tests will be performed using three different setups, one at INL, one at CEA, and one at CIEMAT. The cis-mTDDGA/PTD chemical system will be used, applying both "extraction" (cis-mTDDGA - n-dodecane/HNO3) and "stripping" (cis-mTDDGA - n-dodecane/PTD - HNO3) conditions. This test plan provides the details and parameters to be used to perform irradiation at the INL using the INL Radiolysis Test Loop.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2019

Test Report: Glovebox Test Fire for Evaluation of Effects on Containers and Windows

This test report describes a designed Glovebox (GB) fire to identify target environmental conditions that GB containers and windows are subject to such fires. The fire was designed by representatives from the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to replicate a realistic worst-case fire scenario at LANL. Key results of these experiments include: • The GB fire was active for more than 30 minutes. • Thermocouples were placed at multiple points in the GB were measured, including one on top of the container. Temperatures at varied widely as a function of location during the fires, as might be expected and as a function of proximity to fire, elevation in the GB, and in relation airflow present during the test, which constantly introduces room-temperature air into the GB. The maximum temperature recorded by a thermocouple was slightly less than 500°F at the elevation of the highest gloveports and near, but not in contact with the GB wall. • A thermographic camera imaged the region of the GB container during the fire. These data report container temperatures of up to approximately 900°F (482°C) over a period of several minutes. • Four kilograms of lead shot were held in the container. The majority of the shot melted during the course of the fire (lead melting point: 621°F/327°C). • Multiple windows fractured during the test. In some cases, the polymer interlayer of the laminated GB window glass appears to have sustained damage due to thermal breakdown of the polymer, though the interlayer of the laminated GB window glass appears to have remained intact in all cases. • The one window with an attached thermocouple was less affected by the fire. The attached thermocouple measured up to approximately 150°F. • Other thermocouples along (but not in contact with) the GB wall and closer to the fire (and cracked windows) reported up to approximately 200°C (392° F). These finding suggest that subjecting containers to 500°C for 45 minutes is bounding and representative for fires of this type. It should also be noted that 500°C (932°F) has been previously used as a test criterion for related work. Similarly, 200°C may be a reasonable target temperature for GB windows subjected to fires of this type.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

OT-$\mu$DTC, a test bench for testing CMS Outer Tracker Phase-2 module prototypes

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment plans to replace its strip tracker system with a completely new Outer Tracker system to cope with the higher luminosity, compared to Run 2 operation, provided by the HL-LHC. This CMS Phase-2 Outer Tracker will be build up from two types of modules both consisting out of two parallel silicon sensors separated by a few millimetres. To read out the two types of modules four Outer Tracker specific custom chips are required. This proceeding introduces the module concept, goes into more detail on the data path, discusses the test system (OT-$\mu$DTC) designed for testing prototypes based on these ASICs and gives examples of test results obtained with this test system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

SITCOMTN-162: Testing the implementation of Metadetection and Cell-Based Coadds on Abell 360 LSSTComCam data

The purpose of this technote is to test the technical quality of LSSTComCam commissioning data, specifically the Rubin_SV_38_7 field, by utilizing cell-based coadds and Metadetection by measuring the tangential and cross weak lensing shear profiles of the massive cluster Abell 360 (called A360 throughout the technote). The process entails generating the cell-based coadds for Metadetection to run on, identifying and removing cluster member galaxies, applying quality cuts, calibrating the shear measurements, and validation. Cell-based coadds and Metadetection are both currently in the process of being implemented within the LSST Science Pipelines at the time of this technote. There is substantial technical value in attempting a difficult measurement prior to full implementation. Measuring the tangential shear around A360 will showcase the current abilities of these algorithms, as well as highlight where work is still needed. As seen from the resulting shear profile of A360, the cell-based coadds and Metadetection are able to work in tandem to produce a shear catalog and resulting reduced shear profile. This technote is one part of a series studying A360 in order to both stress test the commissioning camera and demonstrate the technical capabilities of the Vera Rubin Observatory. We study the quality of the PSF modeling and impact it can have on cluster WL in [Combet et al., 2025], implementation of cell-based coadds and subsequent use for Metadetect [Sheldon et al., 2023] in this technote, photometric calibration in (in prep), source selection and photometric redshifts in [Adari et al., 2025], use of Anacal [Li et al., 2024] to produce a cluster shear profile in [Li et al., 2025], and background subtraction in this field and Fornax in [Zhou et al., 2025].

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Development of a Test Technique to Determine the Thermal Conductivity of Large Refractory Ceramic Test Specimens

A method has been developed to utilize the High Intensity Infrared lamp located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the measurement of thermal conductivity of bulk refractory materials at elevated temperatures. The applicability of standardized test methods to determine the thermal conductivity of refractory materials at elevated temperatures is limited to small sample sizes (laser flash) or older test methods (hot wire, guarded hot plate), which have their own inherent problems. A new method, based on the principle of the laser flash method, but capable of evaluating test specimens on the order of 200 x 250 x 50 mm has been developed. Tests have been performed to validate the method and preliminary results are presented in this paper.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Field Test Report: NETL Portable Raman Gas Composition Monitor Initial Industrial tests at NETL and General Electric (GE)

NETL has developed new technology which enables the use of Raman spectroscopy in the real-time measurement of gas mixtures. This technology uses a hollow reflective metal-lined capillary waveguide as a gas sampling cell which contains the sample gas, and efficiently collects optical Raman scattering from the gas sample, for measurement with a miniature spectrometer. The result is an optical Raman “fingerprint” for each gas which is tens or hundreds of times larger than that which can be collected with conventional free-space optics. In this manner, the new technology exhibits a combination of measurement speed and accuracy which is unprecedented for spontaneous Raman measurements of gases. This makes the system especially well-suited to gas turbine engine control based on a-priori measurement of incoming fuel composition. The system has been developed to produce a measurement of all of the common components of natural gas, including the lesser nitrogen, oxygen, carbon-dioxide, and carbon monoxide diluents to better than 1% concentration accuracy each second. The objective of this task under CRADA 10-N100 was to evaluate the capability of a laser Raman capillary gas sensor for combustion fuels. A portable version of the Raman gas sensor, constructed at NETL, was used for field-trials conducted in a cooperative research effort at a GE facility. Testing under the CRADA was performed in 5 parts. Parts 1-4 were successful in testing of the Raman Gas Composition Monitor with bottled calibration gases, and in continuous monitoring of several gas streams at low pressure, in comparison with an online mass spectrometer. In part 5, the Raman Gas Composition Monitor was moved outdoors for testing with high pressure gas supplies. Some difficulties were encountered during industrial testing including the condensation of heavy hydrocarbons inside the sample cell (in part 5), communication with the GE data collection system, as well as some drift in the optical noise background. The difficulties with liquid contaminants will be overcome through the use of prodigious sample-cell heating and additional line filtration including liquid ingress-protection. The communication problem was resolved through site-specific troubleshooting of the MODBUS data tags.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Field Test Report: NETL Portable Raman Gas Composition Monitor - Initial Industrial tests at NETL and General Electric (GE)

NETL has developed new technology which enables the use of Raman spectroscopy in the real-time measurement of gas mixtures. This technology uses a hollow reflective metal-lined capillary waveguide as a gas sampling cell which contains the sample gas, and efficiently collects optical Raman scattering from the gas sample, for measurement with a miniature spectrometer. The result is an optical Raman “fingerprint” for each gas which is tens or hundreds of times larger than that which can be collected with conventional free-space optics. In this manner, the new technology exhibits a combination of measurement speed and accuracy which is unprecedented for spontaneous Raman measurements of gases. This makes the system especially well-suited to gas turbine engine control based on a-priori measurement of incoming fuel composition. The system has been developed to produce a measurement of all of the common components of natural gas, including the lesser nitrogen, oxygen, carbon-dioxide, and carbon monoxide diluents to better than 1% concentration accuracy each second. The objective of this task under CRADA 10-N100 was to evaluate the capability of a laser Raman capillary gas sensor for combustion fuels. A portable version of the Raman gas sensor, constructed at NETL, was used for field-trials conducted in a cooperative research effort at a GE facility. Testing under the CRADA was performed in 5 parts. Parts 1-4 were successful in testing of the Raman Gas Composition Monitor with bottled calibration gases, and in continuous monitoring of several gas streams at low pressure, in comparison with an online mass spectrometer. In part 5, the Raman Gas Composition Monitor was moved outdoors for testing with high pressure gas supplies. Some difficulties were encountered during industrial testing including the condensation of heavy hydrocarbons inside the sample cell (in part 5), communication with the GE data collection system, as well as some drift in the optical noise background. The difficulties with liquid contaminants will be overcome through the use of prodigious sample-cell heating and additional line filtration including liquid ingress-protection. The communication problem was resolved through site-specific troubleshooting of the MODBUS data tags.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Development of Electrical Capacitance Sensors for Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) Testing at the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility

A variety of instruments are being developed and qualified to support the Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF) program and future transient irradiations at the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The University of New Mexico (UNM) is working with INL to develop capacitance-based void sensors for determining the timing of critical boiling phenomena in static capsule fuel testing and the volume-averaged void fraction in flow-boiling in-pile water loop fuel testing. The static capsule sensor developed at INL is a plate-type configuration, while UNM is utilizing a ring-type capacitance sensor. Each sensor design has been theoretically and experimentally investigated at INL and UNM. Experiments are being performed at INL in an autoclave to investigate the performance of these sensors under representative Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) conditions in a static capsule. Experiments have been performed at UNM using air-water two-phase flow to determine the sensitivity and time response of the capacitance sensor under a flow boiling configuration. Initial measurements from the capacitance sensor have demonstrated the validity of the concept to enable real-time measurement of void fraction. The next steps include designing the cabling interface with the flow loop at UNM for Reactivity Initiated Accident (RIA) ATF testing at TREAT and further characterization of the measurement response for each sensor under varying conditions by experiments and modeling.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗