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At least 343 records · Page 19

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DOE OSTI2022

In Situ Nano-Indentation of a Gold Sub-Micrometric Particle Imaged by Multi-Wavelength Bragg Coherent X-ray Diffraction

The microstructure of a sub-micrometric gold crystal during nanoindentation is visualized by in situ multi-wavelength Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging. The gold crystal is indented using a custom-built atomic force microscope. A band of deformation attributed to a shear band oriented along the (221) lattice plane is nucleated at the lower left corner of the crystal and propagates towards the crystal center with increasing applied mechanical load. After complete unloading, an almost strain-free and defect-free crystal is left behind, demonstrating a pseudo-elastic behavior that can only be studied by in situ imaging while it is invisible to ex situ examinations. The recovery is probably associated with reversible dislocations nucleation/annihilation at the side surface of the particle and at the particle-substrate interface, a behavior that has been predicted by atomistic simulations. The full recovery of the particle upon unloading sheds new light on extraordinary mechanical properties of metal nanoparticles obtained by solid-state dewetting.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Comparisons of Artemis I and Wind Tunnel Buffet Environments and Induced Structural Responses

This paper presents comparisons of buffet forcing functions (BFFs) and associated structural responses for the Space Launch System from two data sources: 1) Artemis I (AR01) Developmental Flight Instrumentation (DFI) and 2) transonic wind-tunnel (WT) tests. Failures of DFI sensors prevented the development of a complete set of flight-based BFFs, where each BFF is based on azimuthal integration over 360-degrees of unsteady pressures acquired by sensor rings placed at many longitudinal stations along the vehicle. Instead, a set of equivalent flight- and WT-based BFFs was developed based on functional DFI and WT sensors that share the same locations. Root-mean-square (rms) levels of equivalent BFFs from flight and WT data are in-family for most of the cardinal Mach numbers. However, at stations downstream of the booster forward attachment (FA) protuberance, the rms of flight-based BFFs exceed their WT counterparts. Strikingly, vortex-shedding off the FA protuberance occurs at lower frequencies during flight than in WT experiments. This frequency shift propagates onto the spectrum of flight-measured vs. WT-based structural responses. Aside from vortex-shedding frequency mismatch, a generally good agreement between AR01 and WT-based responses is an indirect indication that WT buffet environments are fairly well representative of their AR01 counterpart.

transonic buffet↗

NASA NTRS1973

Impedance of strip-traveling waves on an elastic half space - Asymptotic solution

The dynamic normal-load distribution across a strip that is required to maintain a plane progressive wave along its length is studied for the case where the strip is of infinite length and lies on the surface of a homogeneous isotropic elastic half space. This configuration is proposed as a preliminary idealized model for analyzing the dynamic interaction between soils and flexible foundations. The surface load distribution across the strip and the motion of the strip are related by a pair of dual integral equations. An asymptotic solution is obtained for the limiting case of small wavelength. The nature of this solution depends importantly on the propagation velocity of the strip-traveling wave in comparison with the Rayleigh wave speed, the shear wave speed and the dilatational wave speed. When the strip-traveling wave propagates faster than the Rayleigh wave speed, a pattern of trailing Rayleigh waves is shed from the strip. The limiting amplitude of the trailing waves is provided by the asymptotic solution.

Crandall, S. H.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Database of CFD-Based Buffet Forcing Functions for Artemis I Structural Response Evaluation

Time-accurate FUN3D simulations are utilized to estimate buffet-induced unsteady forces experienced by the Space Launch System during the Artemis I (AR01) flight. A set of FUN3D simulations was developed that employed time-accurate mesh translations to simulate the changing velocity and attitude based on the AR01 best estimated trajectory. In these simulations, referred to as accelerating-flow simulations, the freestream Mach number increased from 0.80 to 1.92. Additional time-accurate simulations were obtained at constant freestream Mach number equal to 0.95, 1.18, 1.70, thereby simulating stationary conditions experienced by the flow in a wind-tunnel. On the grounds of favorable comparisons between simulated and flight-measured environments, the FUN3D-based surface pressures were utilized to develop a buffet forcing function (BFF) database. This BFF database was analyzed to characterize the spatial distribution and frequency content of the buffet forces during transonic and supersonic portions of the AR01 flight. The region of interest is located downstream of the forward attachment (FA) hardware between the core stage and the solid rocket boosters where vortex shedding off the FA protuberance produces significant unsteadiness. The analysis reveals that, at transonic and supersonic conditions, buffet forces that are based on constant freestream Mach number data are a good approximation of those based on accelerating-flow simulations.

transonic buffet↗

NASA NTRS2016

After Math - Foamology and Flight Rationale

The Space Shuttle was developed by NASA to be a largely reusable launch system which could provide frequent access to low earth orbit. Like all previous launch systems, safe reentry for the crew and payload required the use of a thermal protection system (TPS). Unlike previous spacecraft though, the Shuttle's TPS was exposed from launch, making it sensitive to debris which could be generated by the vehicle on ascent. The most likely and potentially destructive source of debris was considered to be ice, which could build-up anywhere on the External Tank (ET) where there was exposed metal. Ice could form during ground operations after the cryogenic propellants had been loaded and then be knocked loose on ascent. In order to prevent both ice build-up and boil-off of the propellants, the entire ET and all protuberances (orbiter attach points, pressurization lines, propellant feed lines, etc.) were covered with a spray on foam insulation (SOFI) type TPS. Unfortunately the foam was also susceptible to liberation during ascent, and posed a debris risk of its own. During the early years of the Shuttle Program engineers spent a good deal of effort characterizing the amount of foam that was shed.

Steva, Thomas↗

NASA NTRS2020

Utilizing Modal Testing for Monitoring the Structural Health of Wind Tunnel Facility Hardware

The 10- by 10-Foot Abe Silverstein Supersonic Wind Tunnel (10×10) is the largest and fastest wind tunnel facility at NASA’s Glenn Research Center(GRC) and is specifically designed to test supersonic propulsion components from inlets and nozzles to full-scale jet and rocket engines[1]. Recently, a critical part of the wind tunnel failed and required a redesign before reintegrating into the facility. The design requirements of this new component required that clearances between large metallic components exist, which have the potential for undesirable nonlinear dynamics to occur, in particular rattling. Rattling is feared to occur when the wind tunnel is being operated in certain flow regimes that induce cyclic aero loads on the new component near its natural frequencies. This paper describes the approach taken to better understand and resolve this vibration problem using modal testing. A modal test was developed and executed by GRC’s Structural Dynamics Lab to quantify the modal parameters of the structure, namely which specific excitation frequencies caused the structure to rattle. These results were shared with facility operators as frequency ranges that should be avoided to ensure maximum lifespan of the new structure. Additional means of structural health monitoring (SHM) as well as Vortex shedding are briefly discussed in this paper.

Pederson, Kenneth↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Comparisons of Artemis I and Wind Tunnel Buffet Environments and Induced Structural Responses

transonic buffet↗

DOE OSTI2021

Edge localized mode characteristics and divertor heat flux during stationary and transient phase for CFETR hybrid scenario

The study of edge localized mode (ELM) behavior, stationary heat flux and transient heat flux during the ELM crash phase is performed for a China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) 1 GW hybrid mode operation scenario ($R$ = 7.2 m, ${B_{\text{T}}}$ = 6.5 T, ${I_{\text{p}}}$ = 13.78 MA). Modeling and simulation start with a scenario obtained by multi-code integrated modeling on the one modeling framework for integrated tasks framework. Linear stability and nonlinear simulations of ELM dynamics are carried out using the BOUT++ six-field reduced magnetohydrodynamic module, which show a much smaller ELM energy loss (Δ ELM ~ 0.13%) compared to that of a Type-I ELM. Parametric analysis of the weak linear growth rate and small ELM energy loss characteristics shed light on physics corresponding to a grassy ELM regime for CFETR 1 GW hybrid scenario. The transient heat flux on the divertor target during this small ELM phase is investigated using BOUT++. Here we found that upstream radial transport in the scrape-off-layer (SOL) induced by small ELMs is weak, which keeps it in the drift-dominated region. However, the heat flux width is still broadened to ${\lambda _{\text{q}}}$ = 4.64 mm by the increase of separatrix temperature during ELM nonlinear evolution. The impact of transient peak heat load and ELM energy fluence on tungsten melting and net erosion rate of divertor target is evaluated for the first-time using physics-based transport that connects the pedestal with the SOL. Energy fluence caused by a single ELM pulse is below the tungsten melting limit, while tungsten erosion would exceed the material requirements. We conclude that external mitigation methods, such as divertor detachment and advanced divertor geometry are likely needed for the steady state operation of CFETR.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Database of CFD-Based Buffet Forcing Functions for Artemis I Structural Response Evaluation

FUN3D↗

DOE OSTI2025

Effectiveness of street trees in reducing air temperature and outdoor heat exposure in Las Vegas

Urban greening and especially tree planting strategies are being widely planned and implemented to mitigate urban overheating and thermal stress in many urban areas. However, the effectiveness of these strategies depends on multiple factors, including urban morphology, environmental conditions, and tree characteristics. This study investigates the effects of street tree planting strategies on air temperature and outdoor heat exposure in Las Vegas by combining an urbanized mesoscale climate model coupled to a multi-layer street tree model (Weather Research and Forecasting-BEP-Tree; Δ x = 900 m) with a microscale pedestrian heat exposure model (Temperatures of Urban Facets for Pedestrian; Δ x = 1 m). A series of simulations are conducted for July and August 2022. Large city-wide increases of a drought tolerant tree species cool air temperature mainly during the nighttime (up to 1.5 °C), with daytime effects being limited due to leaves shedding sensible instead of latent heat as stomata close in response to high vapor pressure deficits. Increased evaporative cooling is achieved with a different tree species (double at night, and reaching 0.4 °C during the day), but water requirements increase threefold. Despite their relatively small effect on air temperature during the day, trees provide significant shade by intercepting solar radiation, reducing mean radiant temperature (up to 16 °C) and enhancing outdoor thermal comfort, a major benefit of street trees in hot arid climates. The nighttime cooling of trees and the daytime reduction of radiant loading show potential to reduce the heat-related health impacts. Our results highlight the need to evaluate the effects of street trees on a case-by-case basis.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Dermatitis During Spaceflight Associated With HSV-1 Reactivation- A Case Study

Human alpha herpesviruses herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or -2) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) establish latency in various cranial nerve ganglia, and often reactivate in response to stress-associated immune system dysregulation. Reactivation of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), VZV, HSV-1 and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is typically asymptomatic during spaceflight, though live/infectious virus has been recovered and the shedding rate increases with mission duration. The risk of clinical disease, therefore, may increase for astronauts assigned to extended missions (>180 days). Here, we report for the first time, a case of HSV-1 skin rash (dermatitis) occurring during a long duration spaceflight. The astronaut reported persistent dermatitis during flight, which was treated onboard with oral antihistamines and topical/oral steroids. No HSV-1 DNA was detected in 6-month pre-mission saliva samples, but on flight day 82, a saliva and rash swab both yielded 4.8 copies/ng DNA and 5.3×104 copies/ng DNA, respectively. Post-mission saliva samples continued to have high infectious HSV-1 load (1.67×107 copies/ng DNA). HSV-1 from both rash and saliva samples had 99.4% genotype homology. Additional physiological monitoring, including stress biomarkers (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and salivary amylase), immune markers (adaptive regulatory and inflammatory plasma cytokines) and biochemical profile markers including vitamin/mineral status and bone metabolism are also presented for this case. These data highlight an atypical presentation of HSV-1 during spaceflight and underscore the importance of viral screening during clinical evaluations of in-flight dermatitis, to determine viral etiology and guide treatment.

Herpes, Viral Reactivation, Spaceflight, Dermatiti↗

NASA NTRS2022

Dermatitis during Spaceflight Associated with HSV-1 Reactivation

Human alpha herpesviruses herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) establish latency in various cranial nerve ganglia and often reactivate in response to stress-associated immune system dysregulation. Reactivation of Epstein Barr virus (EBV), VZV, HSV-1, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) is typically asymptomatic during spaceflight, though live/infectious virus has been recovered and the shedding rate increases with mission duration. The risk of clinical disease, therefore, may increase for astronauts assigned to extended missions (>180 days). Here, we report, for the first time, a case of HSV-1 skin rash (dermatitis) occurring during long-duration spaceflight. The astronaut reported persistent dermatitis during flight, which was treated onboard with oral antihistamines and topical/oral steroids. No HSV-1 DNA was detected in 6-month pre-mission saliva samples, but on flight day 82, a saliva and rash swab both yielded 4.8 copies/ng DNA and 5.3 × 104 copies/ng DNA, respectively. Post-mission saliva samples continued to have a high infectious HSV-1 load (1.67 × 107 copies/ng DNA). HSV-1 from both rash and saliva samples had 99.9% genotype homology. Additional physiological monitoring, including stress biomarkers (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and salivary amylase), immune markers (adaptive regulatory and inflammatory plasma cytokines), and biochemical profile markers, including vitamin/mineral status and bone metabolism, are also presented for this case. These data highlight an atypical presentation of HSV-1 during spaceflight and underscore the importance of viral screening during clinical evaluations of in-flight dermatitis to determine viral etiology and guide treatment.

Satish K. Mehta↗

DOE OSTI2026

Performance Evaluation of a Microgrid System with Grid-Forming and Grid-Following Inverters with Diesel Generators: Insights From Hardware Experiments

This paper presents a comprehensive performance evaluation of a microgrid system integrating grid-forming (GFM) inverters, grid-following (GFL) inverters, and a diesel generator, focusing on their interactions and behavior under various dynamic events. The study is conducted using a pure hardware setup comprising two GFM inverters, one GFL inverter, a diesel generator, load banks, a point of common coupling (PCC), and an emulated main grid. The evaluation specifically examines dynamic scenarios, including voltage jumps, phase jumps, rate of change of frequency (ROCOF), synchronization, and islanding operations, which pose critical challenges to system stability. Among all the tests conducted, the overloading and phase jump tests proved to be the most challenging. The capacity of the DC side is crucial for withstanding overloading and grid disturbance tests; otherwise, GFM inverters frequently trip due to DC undervoltage. Throughout all grid disturbance tests, the diesel generator consistently stands out as the most robust and reliable GFM unit in the system. Overall, insights from these hardware experiments shed light on the response characteristics of different generation types during grid disturbances and identify potential stability concerns in such hybrid microgrid systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2020

Polymer–Ceramic Composite Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries: A Comparison between the Single-Ion-Conducting Polymer Matrix and Its Counterpart

Single-ion-conducting polymer electrolytes are attractive to use in lithium batteries as the transference number of the lithium cation approaches unity. This helps prevent concentration gradients across the electrolyte, which can result in dendrite formation. The addition of ceramic particles to polymer electrolytes at high loadings can increase the mechanical strength of the polymer, which can also help suppress dendrite formation. Here, a single-ion-conducting polymer electrolyte is blended with lithium-conducting oxide ceramic particles to make a composite electrolyte. This electrolyte is studied in comparison to a composite electrolyte containing freely dissolved lithium salt. It is found that the addition of ceramic particles to the single-ion-conducting polymer can result in increased cation dissociation and consequent increased ionic conductivity. The electrolytes are cycled in lithium symmetrical cells, and it is found that the ceramic-containing electrolytes show increased interfacial stability with the lithium metal compared to the pristine polymer electrolytes. Our findings shed light on how to optimize the polymer host chemistry to form composite electrolytes that can meet the challenging requirements to stabilize the lithium metal anode.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Mechanically Robust Bismuth-Embedded Carbon Microspheres for Ultrafast Charging and Ultrastable Sodium-Ion Batteries

Advancements in the development of fast-charging and long-lasting microstructured alloying anodes with high volumetric capacities are essential for enhancing the operational efficiency of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). These anodes, however, face challenges such as declined cyclability and rate capability, primarily due to mechanical degradation reduced by significant volumetric changes (over 252%) and slow kinetics of sodium-ion storage. Herein, we introduce a novel anode design featuring densely packed bismuth (Bi) embedded within highly conductive carbon microspheres to overcome the aforementioned challenges. Remarkably, the high loading Bi anode within carbon microspheres with a high tap density of 2.59 g cm -3 possesses significant mechanical strength exceeding 590 MPa and limits volume swelling of only 10.9% post-sodiation. This anode demonstrates a high volumetric capacity (908.3 mAh cm -3 ), ultrafast chargeability (200 A g -1 , full charge/discharge in just 5.5 s), and outstanding cyclability over 12,000 cycles and maintains exceptional cycling stability even at -30 °C. The full cell paired with a Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 cathode retains over 80% capacity after 600 cycles at 36 C, demonstrating a remarkable rate capability of 126 C (full charge/discharge in 28.6 s). Our comprehensive experimental evaluations and chemo-mechanical simulations shed light on the mechanisms underpinning the anode's superior performance. In conclusion, this development marks a significant advancement in the design of durable and fast-charging anodes for high-performance SIBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Metamaterials for Mechanically Directing Cell Phenotype

Recently, abundant research has begun to reveal how microscale surface topography can influence a wide range of cell phenotypes in vitro, such as cell mobility, cell size and cell viability (Flemming et al. 1999, Nikkhah et al. 2012, Wang et al. 2016). However, while these studies shed some light on cell interactions with 2D surfaces of different length scales, cells in vivo experience their surroundings in 3D. Therefore, investigations into cell interactions with varying 3D microstructures are needed to gain biologically relevant insight into how microarchitecture and feature size influences cell behavior. Understanding this relationship between 3D microstructure and cell behavior will have a huge impact on tissue engineering and mechanobiology. Until now, the ability to fabricate complex 3D microstructures for cell behavior studies has been limited. This study harnessed LLNL’s Projection Micro-Stereolithography (PμSL) capability to probe the effects of micron-scale changes in 3D architecture on cell phenotype. Furthermore, our studies explored the application of external forces—such as cyclic loading and flow-induced shear stress—to cell-seeded 3D microstructures to further examine cell behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Coherence Analysis of the Space Launch System using Unsteady Pressure Sensitive Paint

Transonic buffet forces are a major source of unsteady loading on launch vehicles, thus requiring accurate estimation for efficient vehicle design. The state of the art in modeling these unsteady loads utilizes wind-tunnel tests where the fluctuating pressures are measured by pressure transducers (PTs) at discrete locations on a rigid buffet model. These pressures are then integrated over the surface of the vehicle to yield a series of orthogonal centerline loads called buffet forcing functions (BFFs). Typically, the PT layout aims at resolving the pressure correlation along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. As a result, the distribution of azimuthal correlation and its impact on the estimated BFFs are not well known. To fill these gaps, extremely high-spatial-resolution uPSP data were collected for three different configurations of the Space Launch System in the NASA Ames Research Center 11-Foot Transonic Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. The spatio-temporal behavior of the pressure correlation on these vehicles is analyzed and flow features of interest are investigated. It is shown that terminal shocks interacting with turbulence are a source of increased azimuthal coherence, especially when the shock develops at a junction. Vortex shedding off the forward attachment hardware that connects the core stage to the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) is the most severe buffet environment on the vehicle. The associated fluctuating pressures are shown to be highly coherent as far as the vehicle tail and up to 40 degrees away from the boosters. For selected areas of the vehicle, factoring the azimuthal coherence into the attenuation of discrete-measurements-based BFFs results in under prediction relative to the BFFs obtained from full integration of the uPSP data.

buffet↗

NASA NTRS1996

Measurements in Vortex Wakes Shed by Conventional and Modified Subsonic Aircraft

A theoretical and experimental program is underway at NASA Ames Research Center to first obtain a better understanding of the hazard posed by the vortex wakes of subsonic transports, and then to develop methods on how to modify the wake-generating aircraft in order to make the vortices less hazardous. This paper summarizes results obtained in the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center on the characteristics of the vortex wakes that trail from 0.03 scale models of a B-747 and of a DC-10. Measurements are first described that were taken in the wakes with a hot-film anemometer probe, and with wings that range in size from 0.2 to 1.0 times the span of the wake generating models at downstream distances of 81 ft and 162 ft. behind the wake-generating model; i.e., at scale distances of 0.5 and 1.0 mile. The data are then used to evaluate the accuracy of a vortex-lattice method for prediction of the loads induced on following wings by vortex wakes.

Rossow, Vernon J.↗