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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Contributions to the mechanistic understanding of the microstructural evolution in irradiated U-Mo dispersion fuel

Here, advanced microstructural characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy - energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS), were used to interpret the fuel microstructure evolution and fission products behavior in U-Mo dispersion fuel irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) as part of the European Mini-Plate Irradiation Experiment (EMPIrE) test. The larger as-fabricated fuel grain size achieved by heat-treating the U-Mo powder resulted in slower high burnup structure (HBS) development and reduced fission gas porosity. Slower HBS kinetics was observed at the fuel kernels’ periphery, which contained smaller and less fission gas bubbles at all fission densities (FDs) investigated and was attributed to a locally reduced damage density and fission products concentration, as corroborated with Monte Carlo simulations. The non-refined grains at the fuel kernel periphery hosted a perfectly ordered fission Gas Bubble Superlattice (GBS) up to 6.3 × 10 21 fissions/cm 3 . Nano-scale STEM-EDS analysis presented in this study provided useful information on the GBS characteristic morphology and evolution in U-Mo fuel. The concentration of fission gas in the GBS progressively increased with FD, pointing to an evolution of the nanobubble pressure status with irradiation. A possible connection between the GBS collapse and HBS onset is proposed for which there exists a threshold in the misorientation of the refined sub-grains above which the GBS stability during irradiation is no longer preserved, resulting in the GBS collapse.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Understanding the effect of friction stir processing on electrical steel: Microstructural changes and mechanical transformations

Raising Si beyond 3.5 wt% reduces core loss but embrittles electrical steels, constraining processing and application. Here we assess friction stir processing (FSP) as a solid‑state route to enable Fe–4.0 wt% Si with improved mechanical performance. Temperature‑controlled FSP with a PcBN tool produced a defect‑free processed zone. SEM/EBSD revealed dynamic recrystallization and grain refinement from an average 110 μm in the base material to ∼20 μm in the processed region, with ∼ 80% of grains < 40 μm and a reduction in high‑angle boundary fraction to ∼65% (vs >85% in the base). Comparative mechanical property analysis shows a moderate increase in yield strength in FSP samples relative to the base material, with a significant improvement in ductility (∼35–50%). Post‑fracture EBSD identified 60° twin boundaries in the base while sub-grain formation with elevated KAM in the FSP sample. Fractography revealed a shift from quasi‑cleavage in the Base-faceted planes with river patterns, steps, and occasional secondary cracks—to ductile micro void coalescence after FSP. Following FSP, the material retains soft‑magnetic behavior, with modest shifts in saturation magnetization consistent with grain refinement and stored strain, accompanied by a clear gain in formability. These results indicate that FSP provides a viable route to deploy higher‑Si electrical steels with concurrent gains in strength and ductility.

Electrical steel↗
DOE OSTI2020

An additively manufactured AlCuMnZr alloy microstructure and tensile mechanical properties

In this study, selective laser melting (SLM) was used to fabricate an AlCuMnZr alloy. The microstructural features that resulted from additive manufacturing (AM) were significantly refined compared to the corresponding cast alloy features. A combination of fine equiaxed and columnar grains along with in-situ formation of θ' precipitates during AM leads to enhanced yield strength (up to 300°C) in the as-fabricated AM alloy. The refinement of brittle intermetallics and a bimodal grain size distribution leads to improved tensile elongation in the AM alloy. The results illustrate the microstructural advantages that can result from additive processing over conventionally processed microstructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Crystal structure of toceranib, C 22 H 25 FN 4 O 2

The crystal structure of toceranib has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional theory techniques. Toceranib crystallizes in space group P2 1 /c (#14) with a = 10.6899(6), b = 24.5134(4), c = 7.8747(4) Å, β = 107.7737(13)°, V = 1965.04(3) Å 3 , and Z = 4. The crystal structure consists of stacks of approximately planar molecules, with N–H∙∙∙O hydrogen bonds between the layers. The commercial reagent sample was a mixture of two or more phases with toceranib being the dominant phase. The difference between the Rietveld-refined and DFT-optimized structures is larger than usual. The powder pattern has been submitted to ICDD for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™ (PDF®).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Crystal structure of meglumine diatrizoate, (C 7 H 18 NO 5 )(C 11 H 8 I 3 N 2 O 4 )

The crystal structure of meglumine diatrizoate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data and optimized using density functional theory techniques. Meglumine diatrizoate crystallizes in space group P2 1 (#4) with a = 10.74697(4), b = 6.49364(2), c = 18.52774(7) Å, β = 90.2263(3), V = 1292.985(5) Å 3 , and Z = 2. Two different crystal structures, which yielded essentially identical refinement residuals and positions of the non-H atoms, were obtained. The differences were in the H atom positions and the hydrogen bonding. One structure was 123.0 kJ/mol/cell lower in energy than the other and was adopted for the final description. The crystal structure consists of alternating double layers of cations and anions along the c-axis. The hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions into a three-dimensional framework. Each of the hydrogen atoms on the ammonium nitrogen of the cation acts as a donor in a strong N–H∙∙∙O hydrogen bond. One of these is to a hydroxyl group of another cation, and the other is to the carboxylate group of the anion. Each of the amide nitrogen atoms of the anion forms a strong N–H∙∙∙O intermolecular hydrogen bond, one to a carbonyl and the other to a carboxylate group. The powder pattern has been submitted to ICDD for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™ (PDF®).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Diffusion Limit–Preserving Lumped DFEMs on AMR Meshes

Here, we present sweep-compatible, novel upwinding recipes for the bilinear discontinuous (BLD) finite element method (FEM) that allows lumped BLD to be used on adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) meshes for thick transport applications without adding additional degrees of freedom at hanging nodes that exist on refinement boundaries. We analyze the properties of the upwinding and lumping that are needed for BLD to get the thick diffusion limit on such meshes, present results demonstrating locking with the wrong recipe, and present results showing error convergence and robustness properties for two diffusive problems on a variety of AMR meshes.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

MILK : a Python scripting interface to MAUD for automation of Rietveld analysis

Modern diffraction experiments ( e.g. in situ parametric studies) present scientists with many diffraction patterns to analyze. Interactive analyses via graphical user interfaces tend to slow down obtaining quantitative results such as lattice parameters and phase fractions. Furthermore, Rietveld refinement strategies ( i.e. the parameter turn-on-off sequences) tend to be instrument specific or even specific to a given dataset, such that selection of strategies can become a bottleneck for efficient data analysis. Managing multi-histogram datasets such as from multi-bank neutron diffractometers or caked 2D synchrotron data presents additional challenges due to the large number of histogram-specific parameters. To overcome these challenges in the Rietveld software Material Analysis Using Diffraction ( MAUD ), the MAUD Interface Language Kit ( MILK ) is developed along with an updated text batch interface for MAUD . The open-source software MILK is computer-platform independent and is packaged as a Python library that interfaces with MAUD . Using MILK , model selection ( e.g. various texture or peak-broadening models), Rietveld parameter manipulation and distributed parallel batch computing can be performed through a high-level Python interface. A high-level interface enables analysis workflows to be easily programmed, shared and applied to large datasets, and external tools to be integrated with MAUD . Through modification to the MAUD batch interface, plot and data exports have been improved. The resulting hierarchical folders from Rietveld refinements with MILK are compatible with Cinema: Debye–Scherrer , a tool for visualizing and inspecting the results of multi-parameter analyses of large quantities of diffraction data. In this manuscript, the combined Python scripting and visualization capability of MILK is demonstrated with a quantitative texture and phase analysis of data collected at the HIPPO neutron diffractometer.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

In situ ligand restraints from quantum-mechanical methods

In macromolecular crystallographic structure refinement, ligands present challenges for the generation of geometric restraints due to their large chemical variability, their possible novel nature and their specific interaction with the binding pocket of the protein. Quantum-mechanical approaches are useful for providing accurate ligand geometries, but can be plagued by the number of minima in flexible molecules. In an effort to avoid these issues, the Quantum Mechanical Restraints (QMR) procedure optimizes the ligand geometry in situ , thus accounting for the influence of the macromolecule on the local energy minima of the ligand. The optimized ligand geometry is used to generate target values for geometric restraints during the crystallographic refinement. As demonstrated using a sample of >2330 ligand instances in >1700 protein–ligand models, QMR restraints generally result in lower deviations from the target stereochemistry compared with conventionally generated restraints. In particular, the QMR approach provides accurate torsion restraints for ligands and other entities.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

An adaptive discontinuous Petrov-Galerkin method for the Grad-Shafranov equation

In this work, we propose and develop an arbitrary-order adaptive discontinuous Petrov--Galerkin (DPG) method for the nonlinear Grad--Shafranov equation. An ultraweak formulation of the DPG scheme for the equation is given based on a minimal residual method. The DPG scheme has the advantage of providing more accurate gradients compared to conventional finite element methods, which is desired for numerical solutions to the Grad--Shafranov equation. The numerical scheme is augmented with an adaptive mesh refinement approach, and a criterion based on the residual norm in the minimal residual method is developed to achieve dynamic refinement. Nonlinear solvers for the resulting system are explored and a Picard iteration with Anderson acceleration is found to be efficient to solve the system. Finally, the proposed algorithm is implemented in parallel on MFEM using a domain-decomposition approach, and our implementation is general, supporting arbitrary order of accuracy and general meshes. Furthermore, numerical results are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed algorithm.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Adaptive Uncertainty Quantification for Stochastic Hyperbolic Conservation Laws

Here, we propose a predictor-corrector adaptive method for the study of hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) under uncertainty. Constructed around the framework of stochastic finite volume (SFV) methods, our approach circumvents sampling schemes or simulation ensembles while also preserving fundamental properties, in particular hyperbolicity of the resulting systems and conservation of the discrete solutions. Furthermore, we augment the existing SFV theory with a priori convergence results for statistical quantities, in particular push-forward densities, which we demonstrate through numerical experiments. By linking refinement indicators to regions of the physical and stochastic spaces, we drive anisotropic refinements of the discretizations, introducing new degrees of freedom where deemed profitable. To illustrate our proposed method, we consider a series of numerical examples for nonlinear hyperbolic PDEs based on Burgers’ and Euler’s equations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

The crystal structure of feitknechtite (β-MnOOH) and a new MnOOH polymorph

Studies suggest that feitknechtite (β-MnOOH) is a prevalent, and perhaps necessary, intermediate phase during the synthesis of birnessite-like phases, the abiotic oxidation of Mn2+, and the transformation of biogenic hexagonal phyllomanganates to more complex Mn oxides in laboratory and natural systems. Researchers have generally described feitknechtite as consisting of pyrochroite-like (or cadmium iodide-like) Mn-O octahedral layers, but a detailed crystal structure has not been reported. For this work, we used TEM/SAED and powder XRD and Rietveld refinements to derive the unit cell and, for the first time, report a complete structure description for feitknechtite (β-MnOOH). Rietveld refinements were also completed for three natural feitknechtite/hausmannite samples, and time-resolved synchrotron XRD experiments were used to follow the thermal transformation of feitknechtite to hausmannite. Additionally, we identified and report the structure for a second, and perhaps novel, MnOOH polymorph (proposed designation ε-MnOOH), mixed with the synthetic feitknechtite, that is similar to β-MnOOH but with a different layer stacking.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Outlook on Industrial Requirements for Incorporating Nuclear Energy into Industrial Processes

There is an increasing interest globally and in the U.S. in decarbonizing heavy industrial processes which have large demands for heat and power. Currently these industries primarily use fossil fuels to meet these demands and they include: oil & gas, petroleum refining, chemicals and derivative products manufacturing, iron & steel production, polymers, ammonia and fertilizers, etc. The U.S. DOE Integrated Energy Systems (IES) program seeks to identify and analyze opportunities for integrating and substituting nuclear energy to fulfil these large heat and power demands in a cost competitive and sustainable manner while reducing carbon emissions of the processes by using clean nuclear power. Presently various representatives from a subset of these industrial companies have expressed interest in evaluating the options of integrating future advanced nuclear small modular reactors with their industries. This study is a scoping study to provide an outlook of industrial energy demands and the potential nuclear energy substitution potential. Future work will analyze in a more detailed manner the potential designs for coupling advanced nuclear reactors with various industries. The industrial processes of oil refining, methanol production, pulp and paper, ammonia and chlorine-alkali are described focusing on how heat and power is used within the facilities in the context of identifying nuclear substitution opportunities. The aim is to provide reliable, competitive, and sustainable energy that is clean while reducing carbon emissions and other environmental impacts such as water withdrawals, consumption, and contamination.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

CFD simulations of electric motor end ring cooling for improved thermal management

Proper thermal management of an electric motor for vehicle applications extends its operating range. One cooling approach is to impinge Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) onto the rotor end ring. Increased ATF coverage correlates to enhanced heat transfer. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analytical tools provide a mechanism to assess motor thermal management prior to hardware fabrication. The complexity of the fluid flow (e.g., jet atomization, interface tracking, wall impingement) and heat transfer makes these simulations challenging. Computational costs are high when solving these flows on high-speed rotating meshes. Typically, a Volume-of Fluid (VOF) technique (i.e., two-fluid system) is used to resolve ATF dynamics within this rotating framework. Suitable numerical resolution of the relevant physics for thin films under strong inertial forces at high rotor speeds is computationally expensive, further increasing the run times. In this work, a numerical study of rotor-ring cooling by ATF is presented using a patent automated Cartesian cut-cell based method coupled with Automatic Mesh Refinement (AMR). This approach automatically creates the Cartesian mesh on-the-fly and can effectively handle complex rotating geometries by adaptively refining the mesh based on local gradients in the flow field which results in better resolution of the air-ATF interface. A Single non-inertial Reference Frame (SRF) approach is used to account for the rotating geometry and to further improve the overall computational efficiency. Quasi-steady state conditions are targeted in the analysis of the results. Important physics such as ATF jet structure, velocity detail near the air-jet interface, ATF coverage/accumulation on the ring surface, and cooling capacity are presented for a low-resolution Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS), high-resolution RANS, and high-resolution Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) models. Computations are scaled over hundreds of cores on a supercomputer to maximize turnaround time. Each numerical approach is shown to capture the general trajectory of the oil jet prior to surface impingement. The high-resolution LES simulation, however, is superior in capturing small scale details and heat transfer between the free jet and surrounding air.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Structural Assessment of Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, and Hydroxide Substitutions in Lead Arsenate Apatites (Mimetites)–Pb 5 (AsO 4 ) 3 X

Five lead-arsenate apatites (mimetites)-Pb 5 (AsO 4 ) 3 X—where X denotes fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and hydroxide (OH)—were synthesized via precipitation from aqueous solutions. The crystal structures were determined through Rietveld refinement of powder synchrotron X-ray data. All the compounds crystallized in the hexagonal class symmetry (space group P6 3 /m). The Rietveld refinement indicated that mimetite-Cl, -Br, -I, and -OH had an anion deficiency at position X. Substitution of halogens in a mimetite structure brought about systematic changes in unit-cell parameters, interatomic distances, and metaprism twist angles φ, proportional to the substituted halogen’s ionic radius. Mimetite-OH did not follow the linear correlations determined within the series. Twist angle φ, a useful device for monitoring changes in apatite topology, ranged from 20.34° for mimetite-F to 11.42° for mimetite-I. The geometric method has been proposed for determining the diameter of hexagonal channels hosting halogens in apatites. A comparison of the results with halogenated pyromorphites showed similar systematic trends: the substitutions in mimetites have comparable effect on the interatomic distances as in their phosphorous analogues.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Policy Reforms to Unleash Domestic Critical Minerals Mining and Processing

The United States faces growing strategic and economic risks due to its limited ability to mine, process, and refine the minerals required for national defense, energy systems, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies. Although the country possesses significant geological resources, development has been slowed by long and unpredictable permitting timelines, fragmented regulatory responsibilities, limited midstream processing capacity, and a shrinking technical workforce. These structural barriers have created supply chain vulnerabilities that constrain industrial growth and reduce national resilience. This report presents a comprehensive set of reforms intended to modernize the nation’s approach to critical minerals. The recommendations address federal permitting, environmental review processes, the legal framework governing mining activities, interagency coordination, domestic processing and refining capacity, and the education and workforce systems needed to support long term industry development. The analysis emphasizes practical steps to shorten project timelines, improve regulatory clarity, expand processing infrastructure, enable recovery from both conventional and nontraditional sources, and update outdated requirements that hinder the development of essential materials. Taken together, the recommended reforms would strengthen domestic supply chains, improve investment certainty, and reduce dependence on external minerals and processing infrastructure. By aligning policy, regulatory frameworks, and workforce capabilities with national needs, the United States can build a more resilient and secure critical minerals ecosystem that supports long term economic competitiveness and technological leadership.

29 - ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fundamental Effects of Al and Ta on Microstructure and Phase Transformations in the Al–Cr–Mo–Ta–Ti Refractory Complex Concentrated Alloy System

The effect of aluminum and tantalum concentrations on a refractory metal complex concentrated alloy is reported, particularly with respect to their effect on microstructure and phase composition of the alloy in cast and annealed form. Alloys with an equiatomic composition, (AlCrMoTaTi), an aluminum-lean composition (Al 0.75 CrMoTaTi), and a tantalum-lean composition (AlCrMoTa 0.75 Ti) are produced via arc melting. The alloys exhibit multiphase structures, confirmed by X-ray diffraction, microstructural characterization, and thermal analysis. The minor off-equiatomic adjustments of aluminum and tantalum in this alloy system did not drastically alter the prevalence of the Cr–Ta-based Laves phase. Correlations between thermodynamic predictions and observed phase transformations via thermal analysis are improved upon refinement of calculations removing impractical intermediate phases. As a result, experimental findings provide information for the refinement of thermodynamic modeling and deliver additional insight into the optimization of alloy compositions within this five-component system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Unraveling the Molecular Origin of Prey-Wrapping Spider Silk's Unique Mechanical Properties and Assembly Process Using NMR

Prey wrapping spider silk's unique mechanical properties are investigated confirming the silk's high degree of extensibility and superior toughness compared to other types of spider silk. For the first time, the pre-spinning dope phase is studied in isotope-enriched intact aciniform (AC) silk glands using solution NMR that reveals a combination of α-helical domains linked by disordered random coil chains consistent with previously proposed “beads-on-a-string” models. The model is further refined through the AlphaFold2 protein structure prediction tool. Finally, extensive magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state (SS) NMR data for isotopically-enriched fibers is used to refine the structural model for AC silk from two species, A. aurantia and A. argentata. The SSNMR data shows that the AC silk fibers are highly α-helical, coiled-coil in structure but, also exhibit significant β-sheet components that can be traced back to the Gly-rich disordered linker regions in the pre-spinning dope phase that are converted to β-sheet structures during fiber formation. This combination of mechanical and structural characterization enhances the understanding of AC silk's liquid-to-solid transition and structure-mechanics relationship. In conclusion, these prey wrap silk results and models will provide the basis for the design of biomimetic materials inspired by the AC spider silk system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Observation of Thermally Induced Piezomagnetic Switching in Cu 2 OSeO 3 Polymorph Synthesized under High-Pressure

A polymorph of Cu 2 OSeO 3 with the distorted kagome lattice is successfully obtained using the high-pressure synthesis technique (Cu 2 OSeO 3 -HP). The structural analysis using X-ray and neutron powder diffraction suggests that the tetrahedral Cu 2+ clusters [similar to those in Cu 2 OSeO 3 ambient-pressure phase (Cu 2 OSeO 3 -AP)] exist in Cu 2 OSeO 3 -HP but with three symmetry inequivalent sites. No structural change is observed between 1.5 K and the room temperature. The complex magnetic H-T phase diagram is established based on the temperature- and field-dependent magnetization data, indicating two distinct antiferromagnetic phases at low and intermediate temperatures, in addition to the higher-temperature spin-glass-like phase. The low temperature phase is identified by neutron powder diffraction refinements as a canted noncollinear antiferromagnetic order with a weak ferromagnetic component along the b-axis. Size of the refined ordered moment is ≈1.00(4) µ B in Cu 2 OSeO 3 -HP, indicating a large enhancement compared to that of Cu 2 OSeO 3 -AP (≈0.61 µ B ). By applying a uniaxial stress, finite enhancement of weak ferromagnetic component in the noncollinear antiferromagnetic phase in Cu 2 OSeO 3 -HP is observed, which is the clear evidence of the piezomagnetic effect. Interestingly, the sign of the induced magnetization changes on heating from the low-temperature to the intermediate-temperature phases, indicating a novel piezomagnetic switching effect in this compound.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗