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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2010

Nonlinear Dynamics of Cantilever-Sample Interactions in Atomic Force Microscopy

The interaction of the cantilever tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM) with the sample surface is obtained by treating the cantilever and sample as independent systems coupled by a nonlinear force acting between the cantilever tip and a volume element of the sample surface. The volume element is subjected to a restoring force from the remainder of the sample that provides dynamical equilibrium for the combined systems. The model accounts for the positions on the cantilever of the cantilever tip, laser probe, and excitation force (if any) via a basis set of set of orthogonal functions that may be generalized to account for arbitrary cantilever shapes. The basis set is extended to include nonlinear cantilever modes. The model leads to a pair of coupled nonlinear differential equations that are solved analytically using a matrix iteration procedure. The effects of oscillatory excitation forces applied either to the cantilever or to the sample surface (or to both) are obtained from the solution set and applied to the to the assessment of phase and amplitude signals generated by various acoustic-atomic force microscope (A-AFM) modalities. The influence of bistable cantilever modes of on AFM signal generation is discussed. The effects on the cantilever-sample surface dynamics of subsurface features embedded in the sample that are perturbed by surface-generated oscillatory excitation forces and carried to the cantilever via wave propagation are accounted by the Bolef-Miller propagating wave model. Expressions pertaining to signal generation and image contrast in A-AFM are obtained and applied to amplitude modulation (intermittent contact) atomic force microscopy and resonant difference-frequency atomic force ultrasonic microscopy (RDF-AFUM). The influence of phase accumulation in A-AFM on image contrast is discussed, as is the effect of hard contact and maximum nonlinearity regimes of A-AFM operation.

Cantrell, John H.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Irrigation Induced Surface Cooling in the Context of Modern and Increased Greenhouse Gas Forcing

There is evidence that expected warming trends from increased greenhouse gas (GHG) forcing have been locally masked by irrigation induced cooling, and it is uncertain how the magnitude of this irrigation masking effect will change in the future. Using an irrigation dataset integrated into a global general circulation model, we investigate the equilibrium magnitude of irrigation induced cooling under modern (Year 2000) and increased (A1B Scenario, Year 2050) GHG forcing, using modern irrigation rates in both scenarios. For the modern scenario, the cooling is largest over North America, India, the Middle East, and East Asia. Under increased GHG forcing, this cooling effect largely disappears over North America, remains relatively unchanged over India, and intensifies over parts of China and the Middle East. For North America, irrigation significantly increases precipitation under modern GHG forcing; this precipitation enhancement largely disappears under A1B forcing, reducing total latent heat fluxes and the overall irrigation cooling effect. Over India, irrigation rates are high enough to keep pace with increased evaporative demand from the increased GHG forcing and the magnitude of the cooling is maintained. Over China, GHG forcing reduces precipitation and shifts the region to a drier evaporative regime, leading to a relatively increased impact of additional water from irrigation on the surface energy balance. Irrigation enhances precipitation in the Middle East under increased GHG forcing, increasing total latent heat fluxes and enhancing the irrigation cooling effect. Ultimately, the extent to which irrigation will continue to compensate for the warming from increased GHG forcing will primarily depend on changes in the background evaporative regime, secondary irrigation effects (e.g. clouds, precipitation), and the ability of societies to maintain (or increase) current irrigation rates.

Cook, Benjamin I.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Multistage Force Amplification of Piezoelectric Stacks

Embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus and methods for using a piezoelectric device, that includes an outer flextensional casing, a first cell and a last cell serially coupled to each other and coupled to the outer flextensional casing such that each cell having a flextensional cell structure and each cell receives an input force and provides an output force that is amplified based on the input force. The apparatus further includes a piezoelectric stack coupled to each cell such that the piezoelectric stack of each cell provides piezoelectric energy based on the output force for each cell. Further, the last cell receives an input force that is the output force from the first cell and the last cell provides an output apparatus force In addition, the piezoelectric energy harvested is based on the output apparatus force. Moreover, the apparatus provides displacement based on the output apparatus force.

Xu, Tian-Bing↗
NASA NTRS2014

Variable Acceleration Force Calibration System (VACS)

Conventionally, force balances have been calibrated manually, using a complex system of free hanging precision weights, bell cranks, and/or other mechanical components. Conventional methods may provide sufficient accuracy in some instances, but are often quite complex and labor-intensive, requiring three to four man-weeks to complete each full calibration. To ensure accuracy, gravity-based loading is typically utilized. However, this often causes difficulty when applying loads in three simultaneous, orthogonal axes. A complex system of levers, cranks, and cables must be used, introducing increased sources of systematic error, and significantly increasing the time and labor intensity required to complete the calibration. One aspect of the VACS is a method wherein the mass utilized for calibration is held constant, and the acceleration is changed to thereby generate relatively large forces with relatively small test masses. Multiple forces can be applied to a force balance without changing the test mass, and dynamic forces can be applied by rotation or oscillating acceleration. If rotational motion is utilized, a mass is rigidly attached to a force balance, and the mass is exposed to a rotational field. A large force can be applied by utilizing a large rotational velocity. A centrifuge or rotating table can be used to create the rotational field, and fixtures can be utilized to position the force balance. The acceleration may also be linear. For example, a table that moves linearly and accelerates in a sinusoidal manner may also be utilized. The test mass does not have to move in a path that is parallel to the ground, and no re-leveling is therefore required. Balance deflection corrections may be applied passively by monitoring the orientation of the force balance with a three-axis accelerometer package. Deflections are measured during each test run, and adjustments with respect to the true applied load can be made during the post-processing stage. This paper will present the development and testing of the VASC concept.

Rhew, Ray D.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Unsteady Aerodynamic Force Sensing from Measured Strain

A simple approach for computing unsteady aerodynamic forces from simulated measured strain data is proposed in this study. First, the deflection and slope of the structure are computed from the unsteady strain using the two-step approach. Velocities and accelerations of the structure are computed using the autoregressive moving average model, on-line parameter estimator, low-pass filter, and a least-squares curve fitting method together with analytical derivatives with respect to time. Finally, aerodynamic forces over the wing are computed using modal aerodynamic influence coefficient matrices, a rational function approximation, and a time-marching algorithm. A cantilevered rectangular wing built and tested at the NASA Langley Research Center (Hampton, Virginia, USA) in 1959 is used to validate the simple approach. Unsteady aerodynamic forces as well as wing deflections, velocities, accelerations, and strains are computed using the CFL3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code and an MSC/NASTRAN code (MSC Software Corporation, Newport Beach, California, USA), and these CFL3D-based results are assumed as measured quantities. Based on the measured strains, wing deflections, velocities, accelerations, and aerodynamic forces are computed using the proposed approach. These computed deflections, velocities, accelerations, and unsteady aerodynamic forces are compared with the CFL3D/NASTRAN-based results. In general, computed aerodynamic forces based on the lifting surface theory in subsonic speeds are in good agreement with the target aerodynamic forces generated using CFL3D code with the Euler equation. Excellent aeroelastic responses are obtained even with unsteady strain data under the signal to noise ratio of -9.8dB. The deflections, velocities, and accelerations at each sensor location are independent of structural and aerodynamic models. Therefore, the distributed strain data together with the current proposed approaches can be used as distributed deflection, velocity, and acceleration sensors. This research demonstrates the feasibility of obtaining induced drag and lift forces through the use of distributed sensor technology with measured strain data. An active induced drag control system thus can be designed using the two computed aerodynamic forces, induced drag and lift, to improve the fuel efficiency of an aircraft. Interpolation elements between structural finite element grids and the CFD grids and centroids are successfully incorporated with the unsteady aeroelastic computation scheme. The most critical technology for the success of the proposed approach is the robust on-line parameter estimator, since the least-squares curve fitting method depends heavily on aeroelastic system frequencies and damping factors.

shape sensing↗
NASA NTRS2018

Consequences of Different Air-Sea Feedbacks on Ocean Using MITgcm and MERRA-2 Forcing: Implications for Coupled Data Assimilation Systems

Ocean surface flux estimates from atmospheric and oceanic reanalyses contain errors that compensate for inaccuracies in the respective atmosphere and ocean models used to generate these reanalyses. A conundrum for climate studies is the discrepancy between surface fluxes that minimize model-data differences for an atmosphere-only model vs surface fluxes that minimize model-data differences for an ocean model. As a first step towards a consistent coupled ocean-atmosphere data-assimilation (DA) system, we compare surface net heat flux from a state-of-the-art atmospheric reanalysis, the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2), to net heat flux from a state-of-the-art ocean state estimate, the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean Version 4 (ECCO-v4). The possible impacts of the MERRA-2 and ECCO-v4 air-sea net heat flux difference in a coupled DA system were assessed using a set of experiments designed to imitate different “flavors” of a coupled DA system in an ocean-only setup. This was done by forcing the ECCO-v4 underlying ocean model - the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm) - with different sets of MERRA-2 fields and utilizing different forcing methods. By doing so we were able to turn off different air-sea feedbacks which, in a coupled DA setup, are partially muted by the constraining observations. The set of experiments, therefore, represents a range of active feedbacks in different “flavors” of coupled data-assimilation systems. For the period 1992–2011, MERRA-2 net heat flux has a global mean difference of -4.9 Wm(exp -2) relative to ECCO-v4. When MERRA-2 surface fields are used to force MITgcm, imbalances in the energy and the hydrological cycles of MERRA-2, which are directly related to the fact that MERRA-2 was created without an interactive ocean, propagate to the ocean. The experiment in which MITgcm is forced with MERRA-2 fluxes (MERRA-2-flux experiment) results in a 2.5°C global mean Sea Surface Temperature (SST) cooling, a 1m reduction in global mean sea level, and other drastic changes in the large scale ocean circulation relative to those resulting when the MITgcm is forced with the optimized ECCO-v4 net heat flux (the ECCO-v4 experiment itself). When MITgcm is forced with MERRA-2 state variables (MERRA-2-state experiment), the SST is somewhat restored to the observed SST, but the errors are shifted to the water cycle, resulting in a global mean sea level increase of 2.7 m. To further explore the pros and cons of these two approaches, we introduce a new intermediate forcing method in which the ocean is forced with turbulent fluxes but has a long wave feedback. This method, unlike MERRA-2 state, preserves the MERRA-2 water and salinity cycles, and it reduces the SST error compared to the MERRA-2-flux experiment, but the SST is not as good as that in the MERRA-2-state experiment. Our results have implications for ocean-model forcing recipes and clearly reveal the undesirable consequences of limiting the feedbacks in either these types of experiments or in coupled DA.

Ehud Strobach↗
NASA NTRS2020

TURBOMAT-FR: Turbomachinery Aeroelastic Forced Response Analysis Automation Using MATLAB®: PART 1

The primary aim of this effort is to develop a software tool named “Turbomachinery Aeroelastic Analysis Tool for Forced Response (TURBOMAT-FR)” using MATLAB® (The MathWorks, Inc.) scripts. The tool will aid in performing routine forced response analysis of turbomachinery fan blades with the aid of the modal summation method (MSUM). The MSUM approach requires a modal solution consisting of modal displacements, modal frequencies, and modal stresses. The MATLAB® scripts facilitate easy extraction of the required quantities from the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and MSC Nastran (Hexagon AB) solution files. These quantities are subsequently utilized by the MSUM approach to perform a complete forced response analysis.The MATLAB® scripts in TURBOMAT-FR are utilized in postprocessing of the MSC Nastran finite element analysis outputs in three types of solutions or steps, namely (1) stresses and displacements from static and steady response solution, (2) unsteady stresses and displacements from direct forced response solution, and (3) modal solution containing modal displacements and modal stresses. In step (4), separate MATLAB® scripts are also developed to read the processed outputs in step (3) and perform forced response analysis using MSUM. The TURBOMAT-FR MATLAB® scripts mentioned previously are presented in two reports designated “Part 1” and “Part 2”. The current report, Part 1, presents the scripts needed to accomplish steps (1) and (2), noted previously. This will be exclusively useful for performing only the static and steady response analysis and the forced response analysis using the direct forced response solution approach. Part 2 contains the TURBOMAT-FR MATLAB® scripts needed to accomplish steps (3) and (4). The MATLAB® scripts given in Part 2 facilitate the calculation of unsteady stresses using MSUM and provide an automated procedure associated with aeroelastic forced response analysis with different pressure files for the same structural model. The unsteady stresses calculated using MSUM in Part 2 can be compared with those presented in Part 1. A cantilevered blade-alone model subjected to a realistic pressure loading to a boundary was used for static and unsteady direct forced response analysis to demonstrate the effectiveness of the TURBOMATFR MATLAB® scripts.

MATLAB-Scripts↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Effect of Vacuum on Force Response of an Ultrasonic Penetrator

Introduction: The Apollo astronauts encountered higher than expected resistances when interacting with the lunar soil via the Apollo Lunar Surface Drill (ALSD) and the trenching tool. Reducing the force required to move tools or other mechanical components through regolith will impact many steps of the resource extraction process. Force reduction has been achieved in soil materials by imparting vibration to tooling interfaces such as a vibratory farming cultivator, a percussive scoop, and ultrasonically resonant penetrators. Vibration-assisted tools in granular media reduce interaction forces by fluidizing a volume around the tool, allowing the tool to progress through a dynamic (fluid) medium instead of a static (solid) medium. This work seeks to quantify ultrasonic vibration’s effect on the force response of a penetrator in lunar soil simulant in vacuum sufficient to be within the molecular flow regime of any disturbed gases. Methods: A custom vacuum chamber setup, CUBEvac, was designed and built to facilitate penetration testing in a high vacuum environment, for comparison to penetration behavior in ambient terrestrial environment. A two-stage pumping system (Agilent Triscroll 600 roughing pump, Agilent VHS-6 oil diffusion pump) reached chamber pressures of about 5x10-6 Torr with regolith simulant in place. Figure 1 is a schematic of the heart of the assembly (note the penetration drive mechanisms above the chamber feedthrough and the regolith simulant sample in the bottom are not shown). The penetration actuation stack was comprised of a stepper motor driving a lead screw to move the ultra-sonic probe vertically inside the chamber. Motion was coordinated with an Arduino Uno. GRC-3 lunar simulant was used for this set of experiments. Samples were prepared in a four-liter stain-less steel, cylindrical pot with an internal diameter of approximately 15.56 cm (6.125 in) and a depth of 19.37 cm (7 5/8 in) for testing. The soil was baked out prior to compaction preparation as a measure to reduce soil moisture which interfered with pump down capacity. The soil was not baked again if it was removed from the vacuum chamber, prepped, and immediately returned to the vacuum chamber for pump down. The soil was compacted using a 60 Hz vibration table with a surcharge of 34 kg place on top of the soil in the container. Prepared soil samples weighed approximately 6.5 kg (bulk density 1.895-1.934 g/cm3). Two probe end effectors were tested: A cone penetrometer (static only) with a nominal diameter of 12.7 mm (0.5 in) and a nominal height of 28.6 mm (1.125 in); and a vibrating cylindrical probe measuring 12.7 mm in diameter and 50.8 mm in effective length from the tip (Figure 2). The cylindrical probe vibrated resonantly at 20 kHz with an amplitude 23 μm. The cone penetration tests were conducted to assess potential soil behavior differences in vacuum. The cylinder probe tests were conducted as the primary subject of this investigation to assess force response in vacuum. For each test, a regolith simulant sample was load-ed and compacted in the chamber, which was then evacuated for roughly 18 hours to reach the lowest possible pressure (approximately 5x10-6 Torr for most tests). The probe was then moved to about 10 mm above the soil surface before being pushed to a depth of 50 mm for the cylinder probe tests and to a depth of 100 mm for the cone penetrometer tests, both at a speed of 2 mm/s. The simulant samples were prepared the same for all tests. Ideally, they would respond consistently to probe penetration under ambient and vacuum conditions. This was evaluated by measuring the resistance of representative prepared simulant beds with a standard cone penetrometer in both environments. Results and Discussion: The resistance of the simulant samples in the vacuum tests was consistently lower than in the ambient tests as determined by the cone penetration tests. Thus, the ambient and vacuum results cannot be compared directly; work is underway to de-confound and better correlate the data. Still, figures 3-6 show that probe penetration forces are lower overall in the vacuum environment. In both environments, resonant vibration of the probe provides two useful effects: It reduces the probe penetration force and smooths the force-depth curve, significantly reducing local maxima. These effects have implications for various potential applications, such as astronaut hand-tools, where benefits (reducing astronaut effort) outweigh the cost of the additional energy re-quired to generate vibration. These results demonstrate that resonantly vibrating tools can meaningfully reduce the penetration force required for excavation, probing, and drilling tools in simulated lunar regolith deposits under vacuum levels approaching those that will be experience on the Moon’s surface. Lunar-gravity, ambient environment tests are scheduled soon. The effects of realistic temperatures and temperature gradients and deeper vacuum remain to be tested.

E Rezich↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Characterization of the Mechanical Trash Compactor Bag Removal Force

Managing trash accumulation is a critical challenge in human space explorations since the trash volume and mass can significantly influence launch cost and operational efficiency. This study aids the development of a Mechanical Trash Compactor (Mpactor) by testing the removal force required to remove a “trash bag” from the Mpactor. To do this, a Pneumatic Pressure Mandrel System was designed to simulate the normal force trash would exerts on the trash bag and subsequently the sidewalls of the Mpactor. For various levels of sidewall normal force, the removal force required to remove the simulated trash bag from the Mpactor compaction chamber was measured. This testing is used to identify optimal bag materials. Additionally, testing was done on both the native stainless steel walls of the compaction chamber as well as the walls after being Teflon lined. Split-plot ANOVA, simple main effects analysis, Holm’s post hoc comparisons for interaction, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the influence of trash bag and sidewall materials on the required removal force. It was found that Teflon reduced the force required to remove the trash bag as well as reduced material-dependent variation in removal force. Testing showed that Teflon reduced the required removal force with a Polyvinylidene Fluoride , an unidentified Ethylene acrylate - Low Density Polyethylene copolymer, and a Polyvinyl Chloride all requiring significantly less removal force than the other materials tested.

pressure mandrel↗
DOE OSTI2011

Interaction force measurement between E. coli cells and nanoparticles immobilized surfaces by using AFM

To better understand environmental behaviors of nanoparticles (NPs), we used the atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure interaction forces between E. coli cells and NPs immobilized on surfaces in an aqueous environment. The results showed that adhesion force strength was significantly influenced by particle size for both hematite ( -Fe2 O3 ) and corundum ( -Al2 O3 ) NPs whereas the effect on the repulsive force was not observed. The adhesion force decreased from 6.3 0.7 nN to 0.8 0.4 nN as hematite NPs increased from 26 nm to 98 nm in diameter. Corundum NPs exhibited a similar dependence of adhesion force on particle size. The Johnson Kendall Roberts (JKR) model was employed to estimate the contact area between E. coli cells and NPs, and based on the JKR model a new model that considers local effective contact area was developed. The prediction of the new model matched the size dependence of adhesion force in experimental results. Size effects on adhesion forces may originate from the difference in local effective contact areas as supported by our model. These findings provide fundamental information for interpreting the environmental behaviors and biological interactions of NPs, which barely have been addressed.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Surface forces: Surface roughness in theory and experiment

A method of incorporating surface roughness into theoretical calculations of surface forces is presented. The model contains two chief elements. First, surface roughness is represented as a probability distribution of surface heights around an average surface height. A roughness-averaged force is determined by taking an average of the classic flat-surface force, weighing all possible separation distances against the probability distributions of surface heights. Second the model adds a repulsive contact force due to the elastic contact of asperities. We derive a simple analytic expression for the contact force. The general impact of roughness is to amplify the long range behaviour of noncontact (DLVO) forces. The impact of the elastic contact force is to provide a repulsive wall which is felt at a separation between surfaces that scales with the root-mean-square (RMS) roughness of the surfaces. The model therefore provides a means of distinguishing between “true zero,” where the separation between the average centres of each surface is zero, and “apparent zero,” defined by the onset of the repulsive contact wall. A normal distribution may be assumed for the surface probability distribution, characterised by the RMS roughness measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Alternatively the probability distribution may be defined by the histogram of heights measured by AFM. Both methods of treating surface roughness are compared against the classic smooth surface calculation and experimental AFM measurement.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Strong Attraction and Adhesion Forces of Dust Particles by System Voltages of Photovoltaic Modules

We report for the first time on direct measurements using atomic force microscopy (AFM) of electric field induced attraction and adhesion forces associated with soiling on photovoltaic (PV) modules. Real dust particles and silica spheres as surrogate to simulating dust particles were glued to AFM probe cantilevers. The electric field induced force (Fes) was measured via AFM force-distance (f-z) curves, where the electric field was generated by applying a voltage (Vs) to a simulated PV module. Fes and van der Waals (Fvw) force contributions could be separated with the f-z curves. The results show that Fes ~2.5 u N on dust particles is ~5 times larger than Fvw ~0.5 u N at even Vs = -100 V (i.e., similar to large-module operating voltages). Fes increases by an order of magnitude as the applied potential increases from Vs = -100 V to Vs = -500 V. These adhesion forces are by far the strongest that we have measured using the AFM technique for 'initial' contact of particles. Furthermore, unlike the more typical short-range forces of Fvw and liquid bridge, Fes extends sub-millimeters to a millimeter beyond the PV module surface, creating large attraction forces to even uncharged dust particles (i.e., via induced dipoles) in the air. These results indicate that the high voltages typically used with PV arrays today will attract more dust particles from the air, hold the dust particles to the surface very strongly, and potentially induce other PV module surface effects, all of which could increase the power production losses because of soiling.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Investigating the Linear Dependence of Direct and Indirect Radiative Forcing on Emission of Carbonaceous Aerosols in a Global Climate Model

Herein, the relationship between forcing and emission is investigated for black carbon (BC) and primary organic carbon (OC) emitted from North America and Asia. Direct and indirect radiative forcing (DRF and IRF) of BC and OC are simulated with CAM5.1. Two diagnostics are introduced to aid policy-relevant discussions: linearity and emission-normalized forcing. DRF is linearly related to emission for both BC and OC from two regions, and the linear relationship is similar, within 15%. IRF is linear in emissions when emissions are lower and regions are far from sources (North American BC and OC). Indirect radiative forcing is sublinear for strong sources and near-source regions (Asian OC). Emission-normalized IRF in North America is two to four times higher than that in Asia. The difference among regions and species is primarily caused by particle density as high density of BC results in fewer emitted particles and by the processes for accumulation mode particles to become cloud condensation nuclei and then to activate into cloud droplet. Lower emission-normalized IRF in more polluted regions means that reductions of OC in these regions would be relatively climate-neutral rather than causing significant warming via IRF reduction. An optimal aggregation area (30° × 30°) is identified for analysis of the forcing-to-emission relationship. For IRF, only 15–40% of the Earth’s surface is significantly affected by an emission region, but forcing in these regions comprises most of the global impact. Emission-normalized forcing can be used to estimate forcing changes due to emission reductions, as long as causes of nonlinearity are identified and considered.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

An improved proximity force approximation for electrostatics

A quite straightforward approximation for the electrostatic interaction between two perfectly conducting surfaces suggests itself when the distance between them is much smaller than the characteristic lengths associated with their shapes. Indeed, in the so called 'proximity force approximation' the electrostatic force is evaluated by first dividing each surface into a set of small flat patches, and then adding up the forces due two opposite pairs, the contributions of which are approximated as due to pairs of parallel planes. This approximation has been widely and successfully applied in different contexts, ranging from nuclear physics to Casimir effect calculations. We present here an improvement on this approximation, based on a derivative expansion for the electrostatic energy contained between the surfaces. The results obtained could be useful for discussing the geometric dependence of the electrostatic force, and also as a convenient benchmark for numerical analyses of the tip-sample electrostatic interaction in atomic force microscopes. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The proximity force approximation (PFA) has been widely used in different areas. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The PFA can be improved using a derivative expansion in the shape of the surfaces. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We use the improved PFA to compute electrostatic forces between conductors. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The results can be used as an analytic benchmark for numerical calculations in AFM. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Insight is provided for people who use the PFA to compute nuclear and Casimir forces.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

AFM force measurements of the gp120-sCD4 and gp120 or CD4 antigen-antibody interactions

Highlights: {yields} The unbinding force of sCD4-gp120 interaction was 25.45 {+-} 20.46 pN. {yields} The unbinding force of CD4 antigen-antibody interaction was 51.22 {+-} 34.64 pN. {yields} The unbinding force of gp120 antigen-antibody interaction was 89.87 {+-} 44.63 pN. {yields} The interaction forces between various HIV inhibitors and the target molecules are significantly different. {yields} Functionalizing on AFM tip or substrate of an interaction pair caused different results. -- Abstract: Soluble CD4 (sCD4), anti-CD4 antibody, and anti-gp120 antibody have long been regarded as entry inhibitors in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy. However, the interactions between these HIV entry inhibitors and corresponding target molecules are still poorly understood. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized to investigate the interaction forces among them. We found that the unbinding forces of sCD4-gp120 interaction, CD4 antigen-antibody interaction, and gp120 antigen-antibody interaction were 25.45 {+-} 20.46, 51.22 {+-} 34.64, and 89.87 {+-} 44.63 pN, respectively, which may provide important mechanical information for understanding the effects of viral entry inhibitors on HIV infection. Moreover, we found that the functionalization of an interaction pair on AFM tip or substrate significantly influenced the results, implying that we must perform AFM force measurement and analyze the data with more caution.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

An adaptive model-free robotic force control strategy for hydrodynamic real-time hybrid simulation of floating offshore wind turbines

Real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) - a cyber-physical testing approach - promises to enhance the simulation fidelity of the model-scale experiments used to prototype floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). In hydrodynamic RTHS (hydro-RTHS), actuators emulate aerodynamic forces on model-scale FOWT specimens subjected to physical waves in a hydrodynamic laboratory. Robotic arms are promising candidates for actuation in hydro-RTHS due to their compact multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) capabilities. Unlike classical RTHS for seismic applications, which typically relies on displacement control, hydro-RTHS requires 6-DOF force control on newly designed floating prototypes in a model-scale setting, which presents significant challenges, including modeling uncertainties, directional asymmetry, configuration drift, bandwidth limitations, and time-varying delays. To mitigate these constraints without extensive pre-test calibration, this study proposes an adaptive model-free robotic force control strategy that combines task-space explicit force control with a secondary joint-space pose-keeping task. The Adaptive Feedforward Compensator (AFC) is integrated into the force control loop to compensate for time-varying delay. Experimental testing was conducted using a Franka Emika Panda robotic arm with a 1:50 scale FOWT specimen under operational wind and wave conditions. Results demonstrate stable and consistent 6-DOF force tracking. Effective delay compensation was observed, with low-frequency delay reductions ranging from 71.4% to 91.8% and improvements in low-frequency surge force tracking of 25.0% to 52.1%. This study enhances robotic actuation performance in hydro-RTHS and introduces a force control strategy that supports reliable robotic operation in uncertain floating environments. Future work will explore disturbance-observer mechanisms to further enhance wave rejection capabilities under extreme wind and wave conditions.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Multi-dimensional modelling of electrostatic force distance curve over dielectric surface: Influence of tip geometry and correlation with experiment

Electric Force-Distance Curves (EFDC) is one of the ways whereby electrical charges trapped at the surface of dielectric materials can be probed. To reach a quantitative analysis of stored charge quantities, measurements using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) must go with an appropriate simulation of electrostatic forces at play in the method. This is the objective of this work, where simulation results for the electrostatic force between an AFM sensor and the dielectric surface are presented for different bias voltages on the tip. The aim is to analyse force-distance curves modification induced by electrostatic charges. The sensor is composed by a cantilever supporting a pyramidal tip terminated by a spherical apex. The contribution to force from cantilever is neglected here. A model of force curve has been developed using the Finite Volume Method. The scheme is based on the Polynomial Reconstruction Operator—PRO-scheme. First results of the computation of electrostatic force for different tip–sample distances (from 0 to 600 nm) and for different DC voltages applied to the tip (6 to 20 V) are shown and compared with experimental data in order to validate our approach.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Significant impact of forcing uncertainty in a large ensemble of climate model simulations

Forcing due to solar and volcanic variability, on the natural side, and greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions, on the anthropogenic side, are the main inputs to climate models. Reliable climate model simulations of past and future climate change depend crucially upon them. Here we analyze large ensembles of simulations using a comprehensive Earth System Model to quantify uncertainties in global climate change attributable to differences in prescribed forcings. The different forcings considered here are those used in the two most recent phases of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), namely CMIP5 and CMIP6. We show significant differences in simulated global surface air temperature due to volcanic aerosol forcing in the second half of the 19th century and in the early 21st century. The latter arise from small-to-moderate eruptions incorporated in CMIP6 simulations but not in CMIP5 simulations. We also find significant differences in global surface air temperature and Arctic sea ice area due to anthropogenic aerosol forcing in the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century. These differences are as large as those obtained in different versions of an Earth System Model employing identical forcings. In simulations from 2015 to 2100, we find significant differences in the rates of projected global warming arising from CMIP5 and CMIP6 concentration pathways that differ slightly but are equivalent in terms of their nominal radiative forcing levels in 2100. Our results highlight the influence of assumptions about natural and anthropogenic aerosol loadings on carbon budgets, the likelihood of meeting Paris targets, and the equivalence of future forcing scenarios.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗