SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “repeatability”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 469 records · Page 26

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2024

Single-Shot Decoding of Good Quantum LDPC Codes

Abstract Quantum Tanner codes constitute a family of quantum low-density parity-check codes with good parameters, i.e., constant encoding rate and relative distance. In this article, we prove that quantum Tanner codes also facilitate single-shot quantum error correction (QEC) of adversarial noise, where one measurement round (consisting of constant-weight parity checks) suffices to perform reliable QEC even in the presence of measurement errors. We establish this result for both the sequential and parallel decoding algorithms introduced by Leverrier and Zémor. Furthermore, we show that in order to suppress errors over multiple repeated rounds of QEC, it suffices to run the parallel decoding algorithm for constant time in each round. Combined with good code parameters, the resulting constant-time overhead of QEC and robustness to (possibly time-correlated) adversarial noise make quantum Tanner codes alluring from the perspective of quantum fault-tolerant protocols.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2020

A new spatially distributed added value index for regional climate models: the EURO-CORDEX and the CORDEX-CORE highest resolution ensembles

The added value of using regional climate models (RCMs) to downscale data from general circulation models (GCMs) has often been questioned and researched. Although several studies have used different methods to identify (and in some cases quantify) the added value, there is still a need to find a general metric that quantifies the added value of any variable. This paper builds on past studies to propose a new metric of added value in the simulation of present-day climate which measures the difference in the probability density functions (PDFs) at each grid-cell between a model and an observation source, and then compares the results of the RCM and GCM in order to spatially compute the added value index. The same method is also adapted to quantify the climate change downscaling signal in a way that is consistent with the present-day metric. These new metrics are tested on the daily precipitation output from the EURO-CORDEX and CORDEX-CORE projection ensembles and reveal an overall positive added value of RCMs, especially at the tail-end of the distribution. Higher added value is obtained in areas of complex topography and coast-lines, as well as in tropical regions. Areas with large added value in present-day climate are consistent with areas of significant climate change downscaling signal in the RCP 8.5 far future simulations, and when the analysis is repeated at a low-resolution. The use of different resolution observations shows that the added value tends to decrease when models are compared to low-resolution observation datasets.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

Mallat Scattering Transformation based surrogate for Magnetohydrodynamics

Abstract A Machine and Deep Learning (MLDL) methodology is developed and applied to give a high fidelity, fast surrogate for 2D resistive MagnetoHydroDynamic (MHD) simulations of Magnetic Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) implosions. The resistive MHD code is used to generate an ensemble of implosions with different liner aspect ratios, initial gas preheat temperatures (that is, different adiabats), and different liner perturbations. The liner density and magnetic field as functions of x , y , and z were generated. The Mallat Scattering Transformation (MST) is taken of the logarithm of both fields and a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) is done on the logarithm of the MST of both fields. The fields are projected onto the PCA vectors and a small number of these PCA vector components are kept. Singular Value Decompositions of the cross correlation of the input parameters to the output logarithm of the MST of the fields, and of the cross correlation of the SVD vector components to the PCA vector components are done. This allows the identification of the PCA vectors vis-a-vis the input parameters. Finally, a Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural network with ReLU activation and a simple three layer encoder/decoder architecture is trained on this dataset to predict the PCA vector components of the fields as a function of time. Details of the implosion, stagnation, and the disassembly are well captured. Examination of the PCA vectors and a permutation importance analysis of the MLP show definitive evidence of an inverse turbulent cascade into a dipole emergent behavior. The orientation of the dipole is set by the initial liner perturbation. The analysis is repeated with a version of the MST which includes phase, called Wavelet Phase Harmonics (WPH). While WPH do not give the physical insight of the MST, they can and are inverted to give field configurations as a function of time, including field-to-field correlations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2024

Beyond the Surface: Non-Invasive Low-Field NMR Analysis of Microbially-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation in Shale Fractures

Microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a biological process in which microbially-produced urease enzymes convert urea and calcium into solid calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) deposits. MICP has been demonstrated to reduce permeability in shale fractures under elevated pressures, raising the possibility of applying this technology to enhance shale reservoir storage safety. For this and other applications to become a reality, non-invasive tools are needed to determine how effectively MICP seals shale fractures at subsurface temperatures. In this study, two different MICP strategies were tested on 2.54 cm diameter and 5.08 cm long shale cores with a single fracture at 60 °C. Flow-through, pulsed-flow MICP-treatment was repeatedly applied to Marcellus shale fractures with and without sand (“proppant”) until reaching approximately four orders of magnitude reduction in apparent permeability, while a single application of polymer-based “immersion” MICP-treatment was applied to an Eagle Ford shale fracture with proppant. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and X-Ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) techniques were used to assess the degree of biomineralization. With the flow-through approach, these tools revealed that while CaCO 3 precipitation occurred throughout the fracture, there was preferential precipitation around proppant. Without proppant, the same approach led to premature sealing at the inlet side of the core. In contrast, immersion MICP-treatment sealed off the fracture edges and showed less mineral precipitation overall. This study highlights the use of LF-NMR relaxometry in characterizing fracture sealing and can help guide NMR logging tools in subsurface remediation efforts.

MICP↗

DOE OSTI2022

Tuning working potential of silicon-phosphorus anode via microstructure control for high-energy lithium-ion batteries

The primary research on anode materials of lithium-ion batteries have been focused on increasing the specific capacity, while the working potential that is also closely related to the practical energy density of batteries has been paid much less attention. In this paper, starting from micrometer-sized silicon and black phosphorus, we have reported a high-energy silicon-phosphorus/carbon anode (denoted as mSPC) via a high-energy ball milling process, which demonstrates an average discharge working potential of 0.3 volts versus lithium, together with a high reversible capacity of > 2000 mAh/g, high initial coulombic efficiency of 84%, excellent cycle stability, and superior rate capability up to 15 A/g. Furthermore, in situ focused-ion-beam scanning electron microscopy reveals that the volume change of the mSPC anode during repeated (de) lithiation is effectively alleviated. In contrast, starting from nanometer-sized silicon, the resulted anode (denoted as nSPC) not only presents a lower reversible capacity (~1200 mAh/g), but also exhibits a higher charge/discharge working potential, leading to reduced energy density. Our results indicate the importance of composition/structure control in tailoring the working potential and specific capacity of alloying-type anodes towards high-energy lithium-ion batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2024

The Median Isn’t the Message: soil nutrient hot spots have a disproportionate influence on biogeochemical structure across years, seasons, and depths

Abstract Soil nutrient distribution is heterogeneous in space and time, potentially altering nutrient acquisition by trees and microorganisms. Ecologists have distinguished “hot spots” (HSs) as areas with enhanced and sustained rates of nutrient fluxes relative to the surrounding soil matrix. We evaluated the spatial and temporal patterns in nutrient flux HSs in two mixed-conifer forest soils by repeatedly sampling the soil solution at the same spatial locations (horizontally and vertically) over multiple seasons and years using ion exchange resins incubated in situ. The climate of these forests is Mediterranean, with intense fall rains occurring following summers with little precipitation, and highly variable winter snowfall. Hot spots formed most often for NO 3 − and Na + . Although nutrient HSs often occurred in the same spatial location multiple times, HSs persisted more often for PO 4 3− NH 4 + , and NO 3 − , and were more transient for Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , and Na + . Sampling year (annual precipitation ranged from 558 to 1223 mm) impacted the occurrence of HSs for most nutrients, but season was only significant for PO 4 3− , NH 4 + , NO 3 − , and Na + , with HSs forming more often after fall rains than after spring snowmelt. The frequency of HSs significantly decreased with soil depth for all nutrients, forming most commonly immediately below the surficial organic horizon. Although HSs accounted for less than 17% of the sampling volume, they were responsible for 56–88% of PO 4 3− , NH 4 + , and NO 3 − resin fluxes. Our results suggest that macronutrient HSs have a disproportional contribution to soil biogeochemical structure, with implications for vegetation nutrient acquisition strategies and biogeochemical models. Graphical abstract

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2026

Molten Halide Salt Surface Tension: Methods and Correlations

Here, this paper reviews various methods for studying surface tension and their applicability to fluoride and chloride molten salt systems, including a comparison of benefits and drawbacks. Such a comparison aids in experiment design based on desired factors such as scale, accuracy, and repeatability. A detailed review is presented for existing literature data regarding the surface tension of molten fluoride and chloride salts. These reference data were compiled and analyzed to determine cross-validated correlation equations for several alkali and alkaline earth fluoride and chloride salts as functions of temperature. These correlations are necessary for reliable multiphysics modeling approaches as well as accurate design and analysis of multiphase molten salt phenomena such as gas sparging and bubble formation/transport. This analysis supports the development of the thermophysical arm of the Molten Salt Thermal Properties Database (MSTDB-TP) managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Chloride↗

DOE OSTI2022

In-process monitoring and prediction of droplet quality in droplet-on-demand liquid metal jetting additive manufacturing using machine learning

Abstract In droplet-on-demand liquid metal jetting (DoD-LMJ) additive manufacturing, complex physical interactions govern the droplet characteristics, such as size, velocity, and shape. These droplet characteristics, in turn, determine the functional quality of the printed parts. Hence, to ensure repeatable and reliable part quality it is necessary to monitor and control the droplet characteristics. Existing approaches for in-situ monitoring of droplet behavior in DoD-LMJ rely on high-speed imaging sensors. The resulting high volume of droplet images acquired is computationally demanding to analyze and hinders real-time control of the process. To overcome this challenge, the objective of this work is to use time series data acquired from an in-process millimeter-wave sensor for predicting the size, velocity, and shape characteristics of droplets in DoD-LMJ process. As opposed to high-speed imaging, this sensor produces data-efficient time series signatures that allows rapid, real-time process monitoring. We devise machine learning models that use the millimeter-wave sensor data to predict the droplet characteristics. Specifically, we developed multilayer perceptron-based non-linear autoregressive models to predict the size and velocity of droplets. Likewise, a supervised machine learning model was trained to classify the droplet shape using the frequency spectrum information contained in the millimeter-wave sensor signatures. High-speed imaging data served as ground truth for model training and validation. These models captured the droplet characteristics with a statistical fidelity exceeding 90%, and vastly outperformed conventional statistical modeling approaches. Thus, this work achieves a practically viable sensing approach for real-time quality monitoring of the DoD-LMJ process, in lieu of the existing data-intensive image-based techniques.

Gaikwad, Aniruddha (ORCID:0000000285642621)↗

DOE OSTI2021

All-aerosol-jet-printed highly sensitive and selective polyaniline-based ammonia sensors: a route toward low-cost, low-power gas detection

In this work, we report the design and scalable fabrication of a low-cost and low-power polyaniline-based (PANI) ammonia (NH3) gas sensor on polyimide (PI) substrates using additive manufacturing techniques. The silver interdigitated electrode (IDE) arrays and conducting polymer films are printed onto PI using a direct-write technology of aerosol-jet printing. Morphological characteristics are examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis which reveal homogeneously printed PANI film on the IDE platform. The gas sensing performance is evaluated in the analytical early leak detection range of 5–1000 ppm NH3 in air as a function of both thermal (23 °C, 50 °C, 80 °C) and relative humidity (RH = 0%, 30%, 50%) exposures. The sensor exhibits sensitivity down to 5 ppm NH3 with a sub-ppm detection limit and good repeatability. We observe rapid NH3 detection at 0% RH with very extended times for equilibration and recovery. However, at both 30 and 50% RH, the room temperature response and recovery times are reduced to only about 1 min and 5 min, respectively. Experiments also reveal good sensitivity toward the analyte even at higher operating temperatures. Present results merit the practical application of aerosol-jet-printed, low-power sensors for industrial applications where low-level hazardous gas detection is essential.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Plastic Laminate Antireflective Coatings for Millimeter-Wave Optics in BICEP Array

The BICEP/Keck series of experiments target the cosmic microwave background at degree-scale resolution from the South Pole. Over the next few years, the “Stage-3” BICEP Array (BA) telescope will improve the program’s frequency coverage and sensitivity to primordial B-mode polarization by an order of magnitude. The first receiver in the array, BA1, began observing at 30/40 GHz in early 2020. The next two receivers, BA2 and BA3, are currently being assembled and will map the southern sky at frequencies ranging from 95 to 150 GHz. Common to all BA receivers is a refractive, on-axis, cryogenic optical design that focuses microwave radiation onto a focal plane populated with antenna-coupled bolometers. High-performance antireflective coatings up to 760 mm in aperture are needed for each element in the optical chain, and must withstand repeated thermal cycles down to 4 K. Here, in this work, we present the design and fabrication of the 30/40 GHz anti-reflection coatings for the recently deployed BA1 receiver, with indices matched to its various polyethylene, nylon and alumina optical components. We describe an epoxy coating technique designed for alumina optics, which achieves better than 80% transmission at room temperature. For polyethylene optical elements, we present a new heat-compression approach that allows low-density polytetrafluoroethylene AR layers to reach sub-percent reflected power. We describe the planned use of these methods for the next BA cryostats, which may inform technological choices for future small-aperture telescopes of the CMB-S4 experiment.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Signatures of Thermal and Electrical Crosstalk in a Microwave Multiplexed Hard X-ray Transition Edge Sensor Array

We investigate the crosstalk between Transition-Edge Sensor (TES) pixels in a 24-pixel hard X-ray spectrometer array fabricated at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory. Analysis shows thermal cross talk, possibly associated with insufficient thermalization, and rare but larger in magnitude electrical crosstalk between specific perpetrator-victim pixel combinations, potentially due to defects in the bias wiring or microwave multiplexing circuit. We use a method based on group-triggering and averaging to isolate the crosstalk response despite only having access to X-ray photon illumination uniform across the entire array. This allows us to identify thermal and electrical crosstalk between pixel pairs in repeated measurements to the level of 1 part in 1000 or better. In the array under study, the magnitude of observed crosstalk is small but comparable to the resolving power of this pixel design (E/Delta E similar to\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$E/\Delta {}E \sim$$\end{document} 1000 at 20 keV) and so potentially responsible for a degradation in energy resolution of the array at high incident photon rates. Having proven the methods to identify and quantify crosstalk in our setup, we can now consider mitigations.

Triamkitsawat, Panthita↗

DOE OSTI2023

X-ray Inspection Model Validation with Physical Dosimetry

A non-functional printed circuit board assembly was developed using ULTIboard and a simple computational transport model was created for use with the Monte Carlo software MCNP. EBT 3 film radiography was used to compare with Monte Carlo simulation to validate the board representation. The computational transport model was then revised to include connection pins, solder balls, highly attenuating internal structures, and copper trace distribution. Results from the revised model were compared to the EBT 3 films to observe improvements to dose profiles. It was found that this method was useful in verifying the placement of components, as the dose profiles were observed to follow the same trends. The experiment was then repeated using XRQA 2 films to achieve the same level of contrast with 1% the dose of EBT 3 films. It was found that high contrast may be achieved using these films to identify major issues with the model geometry, at a cost of dose profile accuracy. A second validation method was applied to the model using 37 CaF 2 thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). TLD measurements were compared with the simplified and complex transport models to identify the features that have the greatest impact on simulation accuracy. The TLD calibration to CaF 2 was found to be accurate within 5.6%, while calibration to dose in Si was found to be accurate within 4.7%. Finally, it was observed that the accurate representation of solder balls and proper modeling of highly attenuating internal structures had the greatest impact on simulation accuracy.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

DOE OSTI2024

The effect of stretching on polyamide – 6: assessment of crystallinity, mechanical properties, and surface roughness

Polyamide-6 (PA6), or nylon-6, is a widely used low-cost polymer material for various applications. Manufacturing PA6 into fibers involves a spinning process such as melt extrusion, which orients the polymer chains into a semicrystalline structure. When stretching the produced fibers to high strains, the PA6 fibers transition the metastable gamma phase back into the stable gamma phase. The effects of these large stretches on mechanical properties have not been explored after the stretch has been released. In this study, the effects on mechanical properties were studied by stretching the PA6 fibers from 10% to 50% tensile strain and subsequently releasing the fibers. The stretched fibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy to determine the changes to the crystal structure and surface roughness. The stretched fibers were then tensile tested to failure and the tensile properties were examined. The stress-strain curves on the post-stretched PA6 fibers showed clear softening in the fibers with lower initial moduli after 30% stretching. Furthermore, these results may hold a clue to softening of fibers in applications with repeated loading and have implications for mechanical stability and fatigue of this polymeric material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Behavior of selenium and arsenic in $\mathrm{HCl}$ and $\mathrm{HNO}$ 3 on $\mathrm{TRU, TEVA, DGA,}$ and $\mathrm{Pb}$ extraction chromatography resins

The uptake behavior of 73 As and 75 Se was studied in HCl and HNO 3 -H 2 O 2 solutions on commercial extraction chromatography resins (TEVA, TRU, DGA, and Pb resin). There was no uptake of 73 As or 75 Se from HNO 3 media. From HCl, there was 75 Se uptake at high concentrations on all the resins and no uptake of 73 As. Separations of 75 Se and 73 As on these resins have high yields and high radiopurity for 73 As, but limited recovery of 75 Se. TRU and TEVA resin may have potential for use in isotope generators as 75 Se can be retained for at least 26 days with repeated elutions.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

DOE OSTI2025

Polymer-assisted deposition of nanoparticle feedstocks for target fabrication

Traditional polymer-assisted deposition has been shown to produce highly uniform thin films of metal oxides, including actinide oxides. Furthermore, while producing thicker films for nuclear targets is possible through repeated coating application, we exchanged the dissolved metal species with nanoparticles to maximize the thickness that can be achieved with an individual layer. Using CeO 2 nanoparticles in a polyethyleneimine matrix, we produced targets with single-layer areal densities of 0.22 ± 0.01 mg·cm −2 (1σ) and thicknesses of 690 ± 80 nm (1σ). A custom 3D-printed spin coating chuck attachment with an inlay improved target homogeneity and will streamline future work with radioactive materials.

and nuclear chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2024

Large-scale harmonic balance simulations with Krylov subspace and preconditioner recycling

The multi-harmonic balance method combined with numerical continuation provides an efficient framework to compute a family of time-periodic solutions, or response curves, for large-scale, nonlinear mechanical systems. The predictor and corrector steps repeatedly solve a sequence of linear systems that scale by the model size and number of harmonics in the assumed Fourier series approximation. In this paper, a novel Newton–Krylov iterative method is embedded within the multi-harmonic balance and continuation algorithm to efficiently compute the approximate solutions from the sequence of linear systems that arise during the prediction and correction steps. Further, the method recycles, or reuses, both the preconditioner and the Krylov subspace generated by previous linear systems in the solution sequence. A delayed frequency preconditioner refactorizes the preconditioner only when the performance of the iterative solver deteriorates. The GCRO-DR iterative solver recycles a subset of harmonic Ritz vectors to initialize the solution subspace for the next linear system in the sequence. The performance of the iterative solver is demonstrated on two exemplars with contact-type nonlinearities and benchmarked against a direct solver with traditional Newton–Raphson iterations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2025

LandScan HD: a high-resolution gridded ambient population methodology for the world

Unwarned population distributions accounting for routine human activities are needed to address many global human security challenges, including disasters, conflict, and infrastructure demand. LandScan High Definition (LSHD) supports this need through gridded ambient population estimates that measure average human presence between daytime and nighttime at a high spatial resolution of 3 arcseconds (approximately 90 m). Although LSHD has traditionally been produced on a country-specific basis, advances in global foundational data and computational resources now enable scaling its methodology to the world. Combining aspects of top-down and bottom-up gridded population methods, LSHD allocates subnational population totals from authoritative statistics to built-up areas based on occupancy estimates for multiple facility types (e.g., residential, commercial) and then reaggregates these estimates to a global population grid. We scale this approach by organizing the LSHD data stack into a 1° resolution tileset of vector analytic features, enabling an efficient and repeatable workflow for all countries worldwide. Examining the Philippines as an output of the global LSHD baseline dataset, we contrast unwarned and residential (WorldPop) population distributions by (1) exploring a practical application of flood risk assessment and (2) evaluating their congruence with outcomes of collective human activities (subnational CO 2 emissions). Finally, we discuss plans to address current LSHD limitations through data/modeling and uncertainty quantification improvements and provide outlook for workflow automation and extending the model to social, demographic and economic population characteristics.

Building morphology↗

DOE OSTI2026

Commuting embeddings for parallel strategies in non-local games

Non-local games provide a versatile framework for probing quantum correlations and for benchmarking the power of entanglement. In finite dimensions, the standard method for playing several games in parallel requires a tensor product of the local Hilbert spaces, which scales additively in the number of qubits. In this work, we show that this additive cost can be reduced by exploiting algebraic embeddings. We introduce two forms of compressions. First, when a referee selects one game from a finite collection of games at random, the game quantum strategy can be implemented using a maximally entangled state of dimension equal to the largest individual game, thereby eliminating the need for repeated state preparations. Second, we establish conditions under which several games can be played simultaneously in parallel on fewer qubits than the tensor product baseline. These conditions are expressed in terms of commuting embeddings of the game algebras. Moreover, we provide a constructive framework for building such embeddings. Using tools from Lie theory, we show that aligning the various game algebras into a common Cartan decomposition enables such a qubit reduction. Beyond the theoretical contribution, our framework casts NLGs as algebraic primitives for distributed and resource-constrained quantum computations and suggested NLGs as a comparable device-independent dimension witness.

Commuting embeddings↗