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At least 37 records · Page 2

Investigation of the Impedance Characteristics of Perforate Sheet Hole Clustering Over an Array of Uniform Depth Chambers

A series of normal incidence impedance tube tests are conducted to characterize the facesheet impedance differences between uniformly distributed and nonuniformly tightly packed hole layout patterns, defined here as "hole clustering." These hole clustered samples contain the same number of holes as their uniformly distributed counterparts but target edge to edge distances between holes down to 0.01". Resonant frequency shifts between uniformly distributed and hole clustered samples are presented to demonstrate potential design benefits. Mass end correction differences between samples are also shown to better quantify differences in designs, including the effect of acoustic particle velocity. It is found that hole clustered facesheets over an array of uniform depth chambers can provide significant reactance increases at minimal expense to resistance, thereby lowering resonant frequencies. Additionally, moving these hole clustered layouts toward common chamber corners provides additional resonance shifts to lower frequencies.

acoustic liner impedance hole clustering perforate↗

The structure of small metal clusters

One metal atom surrounded by its 12 nearest neighbors is considered for both D(3d) (face-centered cubic-like) and D(3h) (hexagonal close-packed-like) geometries. For Al and Be, the neutral cluster and the positive and negative ions are considered for idealized (all bonds equal) and distorted geometries. The D(3d) geometry is found to be the lowest for Be13, while the D(3h) geometry is lower for Al13. This is the reverse of what is expected based upon the bulk metal structures, Be(hcp) and Al(fcc). Al13 is found to have only small distortions, while Be13 shows large distortions for both the D(3d) and D(3h) geometries. The ions have geometries which are similar to those found for the neutral systems. Both all-electron and effective core potential calculations were carried out on the X13 clusters; the agreement is very good.

Bauschlicher, C. W., Jr.↗

Deformation-enhanced hierarchical multiscale structure heterogeneity in a Pd-Si bulk metallic glass

Here, the multiscale structures in a Pd 82 Si 18 binary bulk metallic glass before and after deformation were studied using electron microscopies, high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and small-angle scattering techniques. The experimental results revealed an enhancement of hierarchical structure heterogeneities on multiple length scales after deformation. Hierarchical multiple shear bands of high number density were observed after bending, introducing complex but periodically distributed residual strain. Pair distribution function analysis revealed that the connectivity of the short-range clusters on the medium-range scale determines the packing density difference between the tension side and the compression side in the sample after bending. In-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study also revealed a transformation of connection modes among short-range clusters under uniaxial tension and compression, which is consistent with those of triaxial tension/compression parts upon bending in Pd 82 Si 18 glassy alloys. The nanoscale heterogeneities for metallic glasses after deformation observed by small-angle scattering and transmission electron microscopy may be attributed to the nanoscale amorphous phase separation and interacting multiple shear bands enhanced by plastic deformation. Our findings suggested that the enhancement of hierarchical heterogeneous structure on multiple length scales may explain the excellent plasticity of Pd-Si glassy alloys, deepening the understanding of structure-property relation during plastic deformation in metallic glasses.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Supramolecular Assembly of U(IV) Clusters and Superatoms with Unconventional Countercations

Superatoms are nanometer-sized molecules or particles that form ordered lattices, mimicking their atomic counterparts. Hierarchical assembly of superatoms gives rise to emergent properties in lattices of quantum dots, p-block clusters, and fullerenes. In this report, we introduce a family of uranium-oxysulfate cluster anions whose hierarchical assembly in water is controlled by two parameters: acidity and the lanthanide or transition-metal countercation. In acid, larger Ln III (Ln = La–Ho) link hexamer (U 6 ) oxoclusters into body-centered cubic frameworks, while smaller Ln III (Ln = Er–Lu and Y) promote linking of 14 U 6 clusters into hollow superclusters (U 84 superatoms). U 84 assembles into superlattices including cubic-closest packed, body-centered cubic, and interpenetrating networks, bridged by interstitial countercations and U 6 clusters. Divalent transition metals (TM = Mn II and Zn II ) charge-balance and promote the fusion of 10 U 6 and 10 U monomers into a wheel-shaped cluster (U 70 ). Dissolution of U 70 in organic media shows (by small-angle X-ray scattering) that differing supramolecular assemblies are accessed, controlled by TM II -linking of U 70 clusters. Magnetic measurements of these assemblies reveal Curie–Weiss behavior at high temperatures, without pairing of the 5f 2 -electrons down to 2 K.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Clustering Effects on the Structure of Ionomer Solutions: A Combined SANS and Simulations Study

Ionic assemblies, or clusters, determine the structure and dynamics of ionizable polymers and enable their many applications. Fundamental to attaining well-defined materials is controlling the balance between van der Waals interactions that govern the backbone behavior and the forces that drive the formation of ionic clusters. Here, using small angle neutron scattering and fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, the structure of a model ionomer, sulfonated polystyrene in toluene solutions, was investigated as the cluster cohesion was tweaked by the addition of ethanol. The static structure factor was measured by both techniques and correlated with the size of the ionic clusters as the polymer concentration was varied. The conjunction of SANS results and molecular insight from MD simulations enabled the determination of the structure in these inhomogeneous networks on multiple length scales. Additionally, we find that across the entire concentration range studied, a network driven by the formation of ionic clusters was formed, where the size of the clusters drives the inhomogeneity of these systems. Tweaking the ionic clusters through the addition of ethanol impacts the packing of the sulfonated groups, their shape, and their size distribution, which in turn, affects the structure of these networks.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Stable CsPbBr 3 Nanoclusters Feature a Disk-like Shape and a Distorted Orthorhombic Structure

CsPbBr 3 nanoclusters have been synthesized by several groups and mostly employed as single-source precursors for the synthesis of anisotropic perovskite nanostructures or perovskite-based heterostructures. Yet, a detailed characterization of such clusters is still lacking due to their high instability. In this work, we were able to stabilize CsPbBr 3 nanoclusters by carefully selecting ad hoc ligands (benzoic acid together with oleylamine) to passivate their surface. The clusters have a narrow absorption peak at 400 nm, a band-edge emission peaked at 410 nm at room temperature, and their composition is identified as CsPbBr 2.3 . Synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function measurements indicate that the clusters exhibit a disk-like shape with a thickness smaller than 2 nm and a diameter of 13 nm, and their crystal structure is a highly distorted orthorhombic CsPbBr 3 . Based on small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering analyses, the clusters tend to form a two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal packing with a short-range order and a lamellar packing with a long-range order.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ce stabilized Ni–SrO as a catalytic phase transition sorbent for integrated CO 2 capture and CH 4 reforming

Integration of carbon dioxide capture from flue gas with dry reforming of CH 4 represents an attractive approach for CO 2 utilization. The selection of a suitable bifunctional material serving as a catalyst/sorbent is the key. This paper reports Ni decorated and CeO x -stabilized SrO (SrCe 0.5 Ni 0.5 ) as a multi-functional, phase transition catalytic sorbent material. The effect of CeO x on the morphology, structure, decarbonation reactivity, and cycling stability of the catalytic sorbent was determined with TEM-EDX, XRD, in situ XRD, CH 4 -TPR and TGA. Here, cyclic process tests were conducted in a packed bed reactor. The results indicate that large Ni clusters were present on the surface of the SrNi sorbent, and the addition of CeO 2 promoted even distribution of Ni on the surface. Moreover, the Ce–Sr interaction promoted a complex carbonation/decarbonation phase-transition, i.e. SrCO 3 + CeO 2 ↔ Sr 2 CeO 4 + CO 2 as opposed to the conventional, simple carbonation/decarbonation cycles (e.g. SrCO 3 ↔ SrO + CO 2 ). This double replacement crystalline phase transition mechanism not only adjusts the carbonation/calcination thermodynamics to facilitate SrCO 3 decomposition at relatively low temperatures but also inhibits sorbent sintering. As a result, excellent activity and stability were observed with up to 91% CH 4 conversion, >72% CO 2 capture efficiency and ~100% residual O 2 capture efficiency from flue gas by utilizing the CeO 2 ↔ Ce 2 O 3 redox transition. This renders an intensified process with zero coke deposition. Moreover, the SLDRM with SrCe 0.5 Ni 0.5 has the flexibility to produce concentrated CO via CO 2 -splitting while co-producing a syngas with tunable H 2 /CO ratios.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Design and performance of a modularized NaI/Tl/ detector /The Crystal Ball prototype/

A prototype NaI(Tl) detector (the Cluster of 54) of spherical geometry subtending a solid angle of 7.5% of 4pi at its center, has recently been assembled and tested. This detector consists of 54 close-packed but optically isolated NaI(Tl) modules and the associated electronic circuitry. The Cluster of 54 is the predecessor of an almost complete spherical detector, the Crystal Ball, which will cover 94% of 4pi. The latter detector is now under construction and is especially designed for the study of gamma-rays produced in electron-positron collisions at colliding beam facilities. This article outlines the mechanical, optical, and electronic assembly of the prototype system.

Chan, Y.↗

Precise Modulation of CO 2 Sorption in Ti 8 Ce 2 –Oxo Clusters: Elucidating Lewis Acidity of the Ce Metal Sites and Structural Flexibility

Investigating the structure-property correlation in porous materials is a fundamental and consistent focus in various scientific domains, especially within sorption research. Metal oxide clusters with capping ligands, characterized by intrinsic cavities formed through specific solid-state packing, demonstrate significant potential as versatile platforms for sorption investigations due to their precisely tunable atomic structures and inherent long-range order. This study presents a series of Ti 8 Ce 2 -oxo clusters with subtle variations in coordinated linkers and explores their sorption behavior. Notably, Ti 8 Ce 2 -BA (BA denotes benzoic acid) manifests a distinctive two-step profile during CO 2 adsorption, accompanied by a hysteresis loop. This observation marks a new instance within the metal oxide cluster field. Of intrigue, the presence of unsaturated Ce(IV) sites was found to be correlated with the stepped sorption property. Moreover, the introduction of an electrophilic fluorine atom, positioned ortho or para to the benzoic acid, facilitated precise control over gate pressure and stepped sorption quantities. Advanced in-situ techniques systematically unraveled the underlying mechanism behind this unique sorption behavior. The findings elucidate that robust Lewis base-acid interactions are established between CO 2 molecules and Ce ions, consequently altering the conformation of coordinated linkers. Conversely, the F atoms primarily contribute to gate pressure variation by influencing the Lewis acidity of the Ce sites. This research advances the understanding in fabricating metal-oxo clusters with structural flexibility and provides profound insights into their host-guest interaction motifs. Furthermore, these insights hold substantial promise across diverse fields and offer valuable guidance for future adsorbent designs grounded in fundamental theories of structure-property relationships.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey I. Survey Overview and Highlights

MeerKAT’s large number (64) of 13.5 m diameter antennas, spanning 8 km with a densely packed 1 km core, create a powerful instrument for wide-area surveys, with high sensitivity over a wide range of angular scales. The MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey (MGCLS) is a programme of long-track MeerKAT L-band (900–1670 MHz) observations of 115 galaxy clusters, observed for ~6–10 h each in full polarisation. The first legacy product data release (DR1), made available with this paper, includes the MeerKAT visibilities, basic image cubes at ~8" resolution, and enhanced spectral and polarisation image cubes at ~8" and 15" resolutions. Typical sensitivities for the full-resolution MGCLS image products range from ~3–5 μJy beam –1 . The basic cubes are full-field and span 2° × 2°. The enhanced products consist of the inner 1.2° × 1.2° field of view, corrected for the primary beam. The survey is fully sensitive to structures up to ~10' scales, and the wide bandwidth allows spectral and Faraday rotation mapping. Relatively narrow frequency channels (209 kHz) are also used to provide H I mapping in windows of 0 < z < 0.09 and 0.19 < z < 0.48. Here, in this paper, we provide an overview of the survey and the DR1 products, including caveats for usage. We present some initial results from the survey, both for their intrinsic scientific value and to highlight the capabilities for further exploration with these data. These include a primary-beam-corrected compact source catalogue of ~626 000 sources for the full survey and an optical and infrared cross-matched catalogue for compact sources in the primary-beam-corrected areas of Abell 209 and Abell S295. We examine dust unbiased star-formation rates as a function of cluster-centric radius in Abell 209, extending out to 3.5 R 200 . We find no dependence of the star-formation rate on distance from the cluster centre, and we observe a small excess of the radio-to-100 μm flux ratio towards the centre of Abell 209 that may reflect a ram pressure enhancement in the denser environment. We detect diffuse cluster radio emission in 62 of the surveyed systems and present a catalogue of the 99 diffuse cluster emission structures, of which 56 are new. These include mini-halos, halos, relics, and other diffuse structures for which no suitable characterisation currently exists. We highlight some of the radio galaxies that challenge current paradigms, such as trident-shaped structures, jets that remain well collimated far beyond their bending radius, and filamentary features linked to radio galaxies that likely illuminate magnetic flux tubes in the intracluster medium. We also present early results from the H I analysis of four clusters, which show a wide variety of H I mass distributions that reflect both sensitivity and intrinsic cluster effects, and the serendipitous discovery of a group in the foreground of Abell 3365.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Computing Aerodynamic Performance of a 2D Iced Airfoil: Blocking Topology and Grid Generation

The ice accrued on airfoils can have enormously complicated shapes with multiple protruded horns and feathers. In this paper, several blocking topologies are proposed and evaluated on their ability to produce high-quality structured multi-block grid systems. A transition layer grid is introduced to ensure that jaggedness on the ice-surface geometry do not to propagate into the domain. This is important for grid-generation methods based on hyperbolic PDEs (Partial Differential Equations) and algebraic transfinite interpolation. A 'thick' wrap-around grid is introduced to ensure that grid lines clustered next to solid walls do not propagate as streaks of tightly packed grid lines into the interior of the domain along block boundaries. For ice shapes that are not too complicated, a method is presented for generating high-quality single-block grids. To demonstrate the usefulness of the methods developed, grids and CFD solutions were generated for two iced airfoils: the NLF0414 airfoil with and without the 623-ice shape and the B575/767 airfoil with and without the 145m-ice shape. To validate the computations, the computed lift coefficients as a function of angle of attack were compared with available experimental data. The ice shapes and the blocking topologies were prepared by NASA Glenn's SmaggIce software. The grid systems were generated by using a four-boundary method based on Hermite interpolation with controls on clustering, orthogonality next to walls, and C continuity across block boundaries. The flow was modeled by the ensemble-averaged compressible Navier-Stokes equations, closed by the shear-stress transport turbulence model in which the integration is to the wall. All solutions were generated by using the NPARC WIND code.

Chi, X.↗

Influence of fiber packing structure on permeability

The study on the permeability of an aligned fiber bundle is the key building block in modeling the permeability of advanced woven and braided preforms. Available results on the permeability of fiber bundles in the literature show that a substantial difference exists between numerical and analytical calculations on idealized fiber packing structures, such as square and hexagonal packing, and experimental measurements on practical fiber bundles. The present study focuses on the variation of the permeability of a fiber bundle under practical process conditions. Fiber bundles are considered as containing openings and fiber clusters within the bundle. Numerical simulations on the influence of various openings on the permeability were conducted. Idealized packing structures are used, but with introduced openings distributed in different patterns. Both longitudinal and transverse flow are considered. The results show that openings within the fiber bundle have substantial effect on the permeability. In the longitudinal flow case, the openings become the dominant flow path. In the transverse flow case, the fiber clusters reduce the gap sizes among fibers. Therefore the permeability is greatly influenced by these openings and clusters, respectively. In addition to the porosity or fiber volume fraction, which is commonly used in the permeability expression, another fiber bundle status parameter, the ultimate fiber volume fraction, is introduced to capture the disturbance within a fiber bundle.

Cai, Zhong↗

Hidden orders and phase transitions for the fully packed quantum loop model on the triangular lattice

Abstract Quantum loop and dimer models are prototypical correlated systems with local constraints, which are not only intimately connected to lattice gauge theories and topological orders but are also widely applicable to the broad research areas of quantum materials and quantum simulation. Employing our sweeping cluster quantum Monte Carlo algorithm, we reveal the complete phase diagram of the triangular-lattice fully packed quantum loop model. Apart from the known lattice nematic (LN) solid and the even$${{\mathbb{Z}}}_{2}$$ Z 2 quantum spin liquid (QSL) phases, we discover a hidden vison plaquette (VP) phase, which had been overlooked and misinterpreted as a QSL for more than a decade. Moreover, the VP-to-QSL continuous transition belongs to the (2 + 1)D cubic * universality class, which offers a lattice realization of the (fractionalized) cubic fixed point that had long been considered as irrelevant towards the O(3) symmetry until corrected recently by conformal bootstrap calculations. Our results are therefore of relevance to recent developments in both experiments and theory, and facilitate further investigations of hidden phases and transitions.

Physics↗

Homotypic aggregates contribute to heterogeneity in B cell fates due to an intrinsic gradient of stimulant exposure

Highlights: • CD40-signaled B cells in cultures form three-dimensional homotypic aggregates. • These tight aggregates hinder the free diffusion of large molecule stimulants. • The resulting concentration gradient of stimulants leads to heterogeneous cell fates. • We describe a flow cytometric approach to quantify this positional information. Monocultures of several cell types result in the formation of robust clusters called homotypic aggregates (HAs). How this physical aggregation affects cell fates in immune cell cultures, is poorly understood. We studied anti-CD40-stimulated primary B cell cultures, where cells assembled into large three-dimensional LFA1-driven HAs by 72 h. The dense packing in these aggregates restricts the infiltration of stimulants, such as antibodies, to cells inside the clusters. This creates a concentration gradient of stimulant availability across the cross-section of HAs. We describe a method to retain this positional information even after the disruption of HAs, for analysis by flow cytometry. Comparison of stage-specific cell-surface markers showed that the extent of stimulant-binding affected multiple fates non-uniformly. While germinal center and lineage markers were moderately upregulated, immunoglobulins and markers associated with memory were more than doubled in the peripheral cells binding more anti-CD40. These cells also experienced a strong repression of the plasma cell regulator Prdm1 and an upregulation of the oncogene Myc. Thus, cells at different locations in HAs are subjected to unequal doses of stimulants, leading to a hitherto unreported source of heterogeneity in cell fates. These findings can be extrapolated to understand the dose-dependent effects of stimulants in other three-dimensional cell clusters.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

From Cell to System: Accelerated hpc Simulations of BESS Aging under Frequency Regulation and Arbitrage use cases

Lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) packs have emerged as a leading solution for grid-scale energy storage, enhancing resiliency and balancing load fluctuations. Yet, experimental characterization of large-format LIB packs-particularly to assess performance and degradation over hundreds of cycles - demands substantial hardware investment and multi-year testing campaigns. In this work, we couple a hierarchical, physics-based modeling framework agnostic to electrode chemistries with high-performance computing to accelerate systems level evaluation by upto two orders of magnitude. Building on the open-source liionpack platform, we implement cell, module, and pack-scale electrochemical models enriched with mechanistic aging mechanisms and deploy them on an HPC cluster to simulate 150−200kWh systems over 500 - 1,000 cycles with in days. We subject these virtual B ESS to both constant-current cycling and realistic grid service profiles spanning frequency regulation, ramp-rate support, and energy arbitrage-and quantify the resulting degradation patterns. Our results reveal that localized cell aging can induce substantial nonuniformity at module and pack levels, with service-specific cycling protocols driving distinct aging modes. This rapid, multiscale modeling approach provides a powerful design-space exploration tool for optimizing electrical architecture, control strategies, and operational schedules to prolong pack lifetime and lower total cost of ownership.

Ayalasomayajula, Surya [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000860788↗

Minimal implicit-solvent coarse-grained simulation of Pluronic block copolymers with ionic liquids

Pluronic block copolymers, composed of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) in a triblock structure (PEO–PPO–PEO), are well known for their amphiphilic character and ability to self‐assemble into micelles in aqueous solution. The addition of ionic liquids (ILs) can further modulate the core–shell structures of these copolymers, influencing their stability, critical micellization temperature, and size. However, fully atomistic simulations often become prohibitively expensive due to the size and complexity of these systems. In this work, coarse‐grained simulations using a minimal implicit‐solvent model were performed to examine how two classes of ILs, namely, 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ([C n C 1 im]) and 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylpyrrolidinium ([C n C 1 pyrr]), change the micellization of Pluronic block copolymers in aqueous solution. The effects of IL concentration and alkyl group length were investigated, and the model greatly improved the efficiency of simulating large‐scale micelle systems. Furthermore, the numerical simulations are qualitatively compared with experimental investigations. Our results show that adding ILs expands the micelle core by embedding IL tails among the PPO blocks, thereby increasing overall micelle size. Less polar ILs generally induce more pronounced micellar growth. However, the effect of IL tail length on conformation and micellar packing is non‐monotonic. Up to moderate chain lengths (around C8–C10), the IL tails can extend sufficiently to increase local separation within the micelle; at longer tail lengths, enhanced hydrophobic clustering and steric hindrance cause the tails to bend or fold, capping further expansion. In addition, although block copolymer chains tend to pack more closely in the presence of longer‐tailed ILs, the random coil size of an individual polymer chain does not necessarily shrink. Meanwhile, these insights provide a deeper understanding of how Pluronic/IL systems interact, informing applications in drug delivery, cosmetics, food, and environmental engineering. Finally, our minimal implicit‐solvent model can be applied to larger systems and longer timescales, substantially reducing computational cost while reproducing key structural trends observed experimentally.

Atomistic simulations↗

T-Matrix Modeling of Linear Depolarization by Morphologically Complex Soot and Soot-Containing Aerosols

We use state-of-the-art public-domain Fortran codes based on the T-matrix method to calculate orientation and ensemble averaged scattering matrix elements for a variety of morphologically complex black carbon (BC) and BC-containing aerosol particles, with a special emphasis on the linear depolarization ratio (LDR). We explain theoretically the quasi-Rayleigh LDR peak at side-scattering angles typical of low-density soot fractals and conclude that the measurement of this feature enables one to evaluate the compactness state of BC clusters and trace the evolution of low-density fluffy fractals into densely packed aggregates. We show that small backscattering LDRs measured with groundbased, airborne, and spaceborne lidars for fresh smoke generally agree with the values predicted theoretically for fluffy BC fractals and densely packed near-spheroidal BC aggregates. To reproduce higher lidar LDRs observed for aged smoke, one needs alternative particle models such as shape mixtures of BC spheroids or cylinders.

atmospheric radiation↗

NASA Radiation Track Image GUI for Assessing Space Radiation Biological Effects

The high-charge high-energy (HZE) ion components of the galactic cosmic rays when compared to terrestrial forms of radiations present unique challenges to biological systems. In this paper we present a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) breakage model to visualize and analyze the impact of chromatin domains and DNA loops on clustering of DNA damage from X rays, protons, and HZE ions. Our model of DNA breakage is based on a stochastic process of DNA double-strand break (DSB) formulation that includes the amorphous model of the radiation track and a polymer model of DNA packed in the cell nucleus. Our model is a Monte-Carlo simulation based on a randomly located DSB cluster formulation that accomodates both high- and low-linear energy transfer radiations. We demonstrate that HZE ions have a strong impact on DSB clustering, both along the chromosome length and in the nucleus volume. The effects of chromosomal domains and DNA loops on the DSB fragment-size distribution and the spatial distribution of DSB in the nucleus were studied. We compare our model predictions with the spatial distribution of DSB obtained from experiments. The implications of our model predictions for radiation protection are discussed.

Ponomarev, Artem L.↗