Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “data needs”

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.

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

At least 505 records · Page 28

2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys

# 2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys To help local and regional planning agencies understand shifting demographics and travel patterns, surveys were conducted in Minnesota’s greater Twin Cities region in 2019 and 2022. Survey results aided the Metropolitan Council in proposing practical transportation investments, preparing competitive grant applications, and prioritizing improvements to best fit regional needs. ## Data Collection Agency RSG conducted the surveys for the Metropolitan Council. ## Survey Methodology These mixed-mode surveys focused on bus, rail, car, micromobility, ride-hailing, and walking. Designed as household travel surveys, they were carried out in English, Spanish, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Hmong during two timeframes: Oct. 1, 2018—Sept. 30, 2019 and June 22, 2021—Feb. 5, 2022. Participants accessed the surveys using a smartphone-based app, website, or call center. A questionnaire captured data about demographics, daily travel activities, and typical transportation patterns to inform model updates and gain information about emerging behavioral changes such as electric vehicle adoption and teleworking frequency. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on participants’ typical travel behavior. ## Survey Records, Data, and Documentation Survey records include a total of 31,251 participants—16,152 participants from 7,837 households during the 2019 survey and 15,099 participants from 7,952 households during the 2022 survey.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys

# 2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys To help local and regional planning agencies understand shifting demographics and travel patterns, surveys were conducted in Minnesota’s greater Twin Cities region in 2019 and 2022. Survey results aided the Metropolitan Council in proposing practical transportation investments, preparing competitive grant applications, and prioritizing improvements to best fit regional needs. ## Data Collection Agency RSG conducted the surveys for the Metropolitan Council. ## Survey Methodology These mixed-mode surveys focused on bus, rail, car, micromobility, ride-hailing, and walking. Designed as household travel surveys, they were carried out in English, Spanish, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Hmong during two timeframes: Oct. 1, 2018—Sept. 30, 2019 and June 22, 2021—Feb. 5, 2022. Participants accessed the surveys using a smartphone-based app, website, or call center. A questionnaire captured data about demographics, daily travel activities, and typical transportation patterns to inform model updates and gain information about emerging behavioral changes such as electric vehicle adoption and teleworking frequency. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on participants’ typical travel behavior. ## Survey Records, Data, and Documentation Survey records include a total of 31,251 participants—16,152 participants from 7,837 households during the 2019 survey and 15,099 participants from 7,952 households during the 2022 survey.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys

# 2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys To help local and regional planning agencies understand shifting demographics and travel patterns, surveys were conducted in Minnesota’s greater Twin Cities region in 2019 and 2022. Survey results aided the Metropolitan Council in proposing practical transportation investments, preparing competitive grant applications, and prioritizing improvements to best fit regional needs. ## Data Collection Agency RSG conducted the surveys for the Metropolitan Council. ## Survey Methodology These mixed-mode surveys focused on bus, rail, car, micromobility, ride-hailing, and walking. Designed as household travel surveys, they were carried out in English, Spanish, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Hmong during two timeframes: Oct. 1, 2018—Sept. 30, 2019 and June 22, 2021—Feb. 5, 2022. Participants accessed the surveys using a smartphone-based app, website, or call center. A questionnaire captured data about demographics, daily travel activities, and typical transportation patterns to inform model updates and gain information about emerging behavioral changes such as electric vehicle adoption and teleworking frequency. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on participants’ typical travel behavior. ## Survey Records, Data, and Documentation Survey records include a total of 31,251 participants—16,152 participants from 7,837 households during the 2019 survey and 15,099 participants from 7,952 households during the 2022 survey.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys

# 2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys To help local and regional planning agencies understand shifting demographics and travel patterns, surveys were conducted in Minnesota’s greater Twin Cities region in 2019 and 2022. Survey results aided the Metropolitan Council in proposing practical transportation investments, preparing competitive grant applications, and prioritizing improvements to best fit regional needs. ## Data Collection Agency RSG conducted the surveys for the Metropolitan Council. ## Survey Methodology These mixed-mode surveys focused on bus, rail, car, micromobility, ride-hailing, and walking. Designed as household travel surveys, they were carried out in English, Spanish, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Hmong during two timeframes: Oct. 1, 2018—Sept. 30, 2019 and June 22, 2021—Feb. 5, 2022. Participants accessed the surveys using a smartphone-based app, website, or call center. A questionnaire captured data about demographics, daily travel activities, and typical transportation patterns to inform model updates and gain information about emerging behavioral changes such as electric vehicle adoption and teleworking frequency. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on participants’ typical travel behavior. ## Survey Records, Data, and Documentation Survey records include a total of 31,251 participants—16,152 participants from 7,837 households during the 2019 survey and 15,099 participants from 7,952 households during the 2022 survey.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys

# 2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys To help local and regional planning agencies understand shifting demographics and travel patterns, surveys were conducted in Minnesota’s greater Twin Cities region in 2019 and 2022. Survey results aided the Metropolitan Council in proposing practical transportation investments, preparing competitive grant applications, and prioritizing improvements to best fit regional needs. ## Data Collection Agency RSG conducted the surveys for the Metropolitan Council. ## Survey Methodology These mixed-mode surveys focused on bus, rail, car, micromobility, ride-hailing, and walking. Designed as household travel surveys, they were carried out in English, Spanish, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Hmong during two timeframes: Oct. 1, 2018—Sept. 30, 2019 and June 22, 2021—Feb. 5, 2022. Participants accessed the surveys using a smartphone-based app, website, or call center. A questionnaire captured data about demographics, daily travel activities, and typical transportation patterns to inform model updates and gain information about emerging behavioral changes such as electric vehicle adoption and teleworking frequency. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on participants’ typical travel behavior. ## Survey Records, Data, and Documentation Survey records include a total of 31,251 participants—16,152 participants from 7,837 households during the 2019 survey and 15,099 participants from 7,952 households during the 2022 survey.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys

# 2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys To help local and regional planning agencies understand shifting demographics and travel patterns, surveys were conducted in Minnesota’s greater Twin Cities region in 2019 and 2022. Survey results aided the Metropolitan Council in proposing practical transportation investments, preparing competitive grant applications, and prioritizing improvements to best fit regional needs. ## Data Collection Agency RSG conducted the surveys for the Metropolitan Council. ## Survey Methodology These mixed-mode surveys focused on bus, rail, car, micromobility, ride-hailing, and walking. Designed as household travel surveys, they were carried out in English, Spanish, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Hmong during two timeframes: Oct. 1, 2018—Sept. 30, 2019 and June 22, 2021—Feb. 5, 2022. Participants accessed the surveys using a smartphone-based app, website, or call center. A questionnaire captured data about demographics, daily travel activities, and typical transportation patterns to inform model updates and gain information about emerging behavioral changes such as electric vehicle adoption and teleworking frequency. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on participants’ typical travel behavior. ## Survey Records, Data, and Documentation Survey records include a total of 31,251 participants—16,152 participants from 7,837 households during the 2019 survey and 15,099 participants from 7,952 households during the 2022 survey.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys

# 2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys To help local and regional planning agencies understand shifting demographics and travel patterns, surveys were conducted in Minnesota’s greater Twin Cities region in 2019 and 2022. Survey results aided the Metropolitan Council in proposing practical transportation investments, preparing competitive grant applications, and prioritizing improvements to best fit regional needs. ## Data Collection Agency RSG conducted the surveys for the Metropolitan Council. ## Survey Methodology These mixed-mode surveys focused on bus, rail, car, micromobility, ride-hailing, and walking. Designed as household travel surveys, they were carried out in English, Spanish, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Hmong during two timeframes: Oct. 1, 2018—Sept. 30, 2019 and June 22, 2021—Feb. 5, 2022. Participants accessed the surveys using a smartphone-based app, website, or call center. A questionnaire captured data about demographics, daily travel activities, and typical transportation patterns to inform model updates and gain information about emerging behavioral changes such as electric vehicle adoption and teleworking frequency. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on participants’ typical travel behavior. ## Survey Records, Data, and Documentation Survey records include a total of 31,251 participants—16,152 participants from 7,837 households during the 2019 survey and 15,099 participants from 7,952 households during the 2022 survey.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys

# 2019 and 2022 Twin Cities Travel Behavior Inventory Surveys To help local and regional planning agencies understand shifting demographics and travel patterns, surveys were conducted in Minnesota’s greater Twin Cities region in 2019 and 2022. Survey results aided the Metropolitan Council in proposing practical transportation investments, preparing competitive grant applications, and prioritizing improvements to best fit regional needs. ## Data Collection Agency RSG conducted the surveys for the Metropolitan Council. ## Survey Methodology These mixed-mode surveys focused on bus, rail, car, micromobility, ride-hailing, and walking. Designed as household travel surveys, they were carried out in English, Spanish, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Hmong during two timeframes: Oct. 1, 2018—Sept. 30, 2019 and June 22, 2021—Feb. 5, 2022. Participants accessed the surveys using a smartphone-based app, website, or call center. A questionnaire captured data about demographics, daily travel activities, and typical transportation patterns to inform model updates and gain information about emerging behavioral changes such as electric vehicle adoption and teleworking frequency. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on participants’ typical travel behavior. ## Survey Records, Data, and Documentation Survey records include a total of 31,251 participants—16,152 participants from 7,837 households during the 2019 survey and 15,099 participants from 7,952 households during the 2022 survey.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

LANSCE 21st Century Deterrence

The LANSCE accelerator is an important tool in the assessment and certification of the nation’s nuclear stockpile. LANSCE provides critical materials and nuclear data needed to develop a predictive capability for the performance of nuclear weapons. As the stockpile ages, materials are replaced, and manufacturing processes change, it is critical that we understand how these changes impact device performance. Dynamic proton radiography and neutron diffraction are ideally suited to contribute to this need. These capabilities are essential to enabling the NNSA labs to become more responsive and agile in advancing the deterrent of the future.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Cost Efficient and Highly Weather-Resistant Solar Panel Backsheet Produced through Continuous Co-Extrusion Processing

The efficient generation and delivery of ‘clean energy” through photovoltaic (PV) technology relies heavily on the cost, performance and reliability of solar panels, along with the individual components used in assembly of those panels. In order to continue towards the Department of Energy’s (DOE) goals of driving costs down, the lifetime of high-output power generation equipment (i.e. solar modules) must be extended to reduce costs associated with power output degradation and replacement of failed or degraded panels. One of the major sources of module failures in the past 30 years has been the failure of the solar panel backsheet. Failure of this component causes severe output losses due to oxidation and yellowing of the module while creating safety concerns as the major electrical insulation of the module is compromised. Tomark-Worthen LLC was formed in 2012 with the goal of designing and manufacturing novel PV backsheets and encapsulants that would be produced in the United States of America and exceed expectations of domestic and international module producers. These backsheets would improve upon known backsheet design failures (i.e. Isovoltaic’s AAA backsheet) and create domestic manufacturing jobs in the PV sector. This goal became a reality with a first-generation product in 2018 and now, with the support of the DOE, Tomark-Worthen has launched a second-generation product known as PhotoMark® Reflections™ 205-3 and 360-3. This 2+ year effort began in late 2017 with a screening of potential polymeric materials and backsheet structural designs. Performance evaluations of each material provided the necessary data needed to select the proper material combinations and move forward into the design of the manufacturing process. These decisions were made by teaming with a local university, well-respected government laboratories, and private research organizations who provided the tools necessary to predict long-term performance of these materials in much shorter periods of time. Once the go/no-go criteria were met at the mid-point of the project, the effort transitioned to predicting 30+ year performance, achieving certifications, and improving manufacturing efficiencies designed to lower costs in order to be competitive in a cost-driven market. Major project accomplishments include recognition of the new backsheet by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and international certification for 1000V and 1500V modules by TUV Sud. Both 1000V and 1500V products have been proven on several module manufacturing lines and initial customer orders have been received by both domestic and international module producers. Accelerated exposure testing has shown that the performance of this backsheet exceeds the prior polyamide-based backsheet known to fail in the field. Cost-models and initial customer orders have shown the ability to produce this backsheet at a cost acceptable to many domestic manufacturers, while International costs for standard backsheet remains extremely low. Tomark-Worthen remains one of the only U.S. companies manufacturing backsheet domestically and this has drawn interest from many domestic module manufacturers looking to improve their material supply logistics by avoiding long lead times and custom’s headaches while avoiding current tariffs on Chinese-made components. Along with the launch of a new PV backsheet, this project has provided a critical deliverable to the PV R&D community. This deliverable is the knowledge that not all polyamide-containing backsheets are doomed to failure as the earlier versions did. There has been a fear amongst the PV community to consider these materials due to the failure of one design. This effort has brought a new level of interest to the scientific community as it has been shown that polyamides can be used successfully in a well-designed backsheet. As we move forward from this project, we are excited to see how backsheet technology and manufacturing in the U.S. will continue to progress and grow.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Improved Models of Long-Term Creep Behavior of High Performance Structural Alloys

In this program, QuesTek Innovations LLC, a leader in the field of computational materials design, proposes to develop a robust creep-modeling toolkit that expands its computational Materials by Design® technology, in order to predict the long-term creep performance of materials for base alloys and weldments in fossil energy systems under wide thermal and mechanical conditions. The Material Database Group of NIMS (National Institute for Material Science, JAPAN) provides reliable public data for long-term creep behavior over 300,000 hours (> 34 years) for a variety of materials including high Cr steels along with seminal work performed by EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) on creep failure of these steels. QuesTek would rely on these premier institutions for experimental data needed to calibrate models. The developed tool has wider applications than the state-of-the-art modeling tools. It includes the effects of chemistry variations, microstructure variation (weldments) etc .which is lacking in many available models requiring the model to be calibrated to large number of datasets for accurate predictions. A model based on fundamental mechanism has promises in application to different materials, other than the demonstrated material (Grade 91 steels) in the current program. As a result of such an effort, we envision greatly advancing the state-of-the-art modeling tools for creep life assessments of different materials.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Model Package Report: Central Plateau Vadose Zone Models

This model package report describes concisely the modeling objectives, conceptualization, implementation, uncertainty and sensitivity, configuration control, limitations, data needs, and recommendations for improvement of the Central Plateau Vadose Zone Models. This collection of models is developed to meet the vadose zone simulation needs of the Hanford Site Composite Analysis (CA), the Hanford Site Cumulative Impact Evaluation (CIE), and are expected to find other applications in Hanford Site remedial cleanup decision-making processes. This model package report describes and documents the development of the models themselves to fulfill technical approaches defined for the CA and the CIE. This report does not document any specific calculation using these models: instead, applications of individual vadose models to perform specific calculations will be documented in environmental calculation files, including inputs and results, as appropriate. Configuration management for the Central Plateau Vadose Zone Models is managed through assignment of unique sequential numerical version numbers and archival of the models in the Environmental Modeling Management Archive.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

HIBP Applications to Advance Understanding of Plasma Transport Physics (2011-2017) (and subsequently titled) Development of Beam Measurements to Advance Understanding of Transients and Improve Validation (2017-2020) (Final Technical Report)

This is the Final Technical Report for the DoE Measurement Innovation (previously Diagnostic Development) grant DE-SC0006077 titled HIBP Applications to Advance Understanding of Plasma Transport Physics (2011-2017), and subsequently titled Development of Beam Measurements to Advance Understanding of Transients and Improve Validation (2017-2020). The grant was funded by the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) for the period 1 May 2011–17 July 2020. Work performed through the grant has resulted in diagnostic innovations and new measurement capabilities that will improve understanding of transport, magnetic equilibrium, and electric fields in magnetically confined plasmas. We have developed novel hardware and advanced techniques to expand beam-based diagnostic capabilities, and extend measurements to new operating regimes. Some have been realized using a Heavy Ion Beam Probe (HIBP) having traditional features, while other applications have joined our innovations with subsets of advantageous HIBP features. This work has established smaller, more economical detection systems and, in doing so, may enable substantial extension of scenarios in which beam-based diagnostics are deployed. Key Measurement Innovations include: Computer Models and Simulations of HIBP Applications-Computer modeling and simulating of HIBP applications is central to predicting interaction of beam particles with plasmas, designing diagnostic systems, and anticipating measurement characteristics. We have extended the capability and improved measurement fidelity of the HIBP diagnostic on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) reversed field pinch (RFP); simulated feasibility of HIBP operation in the Helically Symmetric eXperiment (HSX) optimized stellarator; and investigated the plausibility of HIBP measurements in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak. We have also developed a new technique that uses ion optics to model a finite phase-space beam. It yields more realistic (than traditional method) estimates of sample volume characteristics, which influence measurement resolution and sensitivity. Extension of Diagnostic Capabilities and Measurements on the MST RFP-Capabilities have been extended using the first and only HIBP installation on an RFP. Challenges associated with operation of the diagnostic on MST include the three-dimensional nature of particle trajectories, temporal topology and amplitude changes in the plasma equilibrium, and strong particle and radiative emission from the plasma. We have addressed these challenges through development of detailed and higher precision diagnostic simulations, calibrated subtraction of noise to resolve secondary ion signals, and implementation of hardware that enables higher fidelity measurement of plasma fluctuations. Development of New Hardware and Measurement Techniques - We have advanced beam-based measurement capabilities via development of new detectors and techniques to determine the poloidal magnetic flux ψ in the plasma, and enable placement of detectors close to the plasma and thus allow a smaller and less expensive diagnostic. We have demonstrated measurement of ψ, an ability that was made possible by development of highly effective noise reduction techniques. We also modeled the effect of non-ideal and instrumentation effects by developing a virtual (simulated) diagnostic. Application of beam-based diagnostics on various devices and multiple magnetic configurations (e.g. stellarator, tokamak, and reversed field pinch) enables investigation of critical physics issues and measurements resulting in the broad parameter space data needed to test and validate theory & modeling.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Characterization of the Sulfur-Saturated Melt Versions of the HFG1 Study Glasses

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for building the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) at the Hanford Site in Washington to remediate 55 million gallons of radioactive waste that is temporarily stored in 177 underground tanks. The Office of River Protection (ORP) has requested that the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) contribute to current glass studies to support successful startup of the WTP, due to SRNL’s recognized capabilities and expertise for glass waste form development. As part of this effort, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing, batching, and fabricating simulated high-level waste (HLW) glasses to generate the associated property data needed to validate or identify areas of potential characterization improvements in the current glass property/ composition models. Currently, the models cover only a small fraction of the waste compositions projected in the Hanford tank farm; therefore, the models must be expanded to include high fluoride compositions to successfully complete the WTP mission. SRNL support of this work is defined in the Task Technical and Quality Assurance Plan (TTQAP). This report provides results from the chemical analyses of a series of sulfur-saturated melt (SSM) versions of simulated nuclear waste glasses fabricated at PNNL. The glasses were selected as part of a broader study of the influence of glass composition on chemical durability, sulfur retention, and other properties. The glasses were designated the High Fluoride Glasses-1 (HLG1).

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Mechanical testing of PH13-8Mo H950 Steel for Xue-Wierzbicki Fracture Criterion Determination at 20° C and -40° C

Mechanical testing was conducted to collect the data needed to build a Xue-Wierzbicki (XW) fracture model for PH13-8 Mo H950 stainless steel (PH 13-8 SS). This model is intended for use in structural analysis of this material between room temperature and -40° C. Tests were performed on four different specimen geometries such that a range of stress states were characterized at room temperature and -40° C. Tensile tests on R5 tensile specimens were also performed to assess material anisotropy. Fracture toughness test were also conducted. The fracture toughness of this material at -40° C was 68% of the room-temperature value. Material strength generally increased with decreasing temperature while the opposite trend was observed for ductility. These trends were most pronounced for specimens with the largest stress triaxialities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Tank Side Cesium Removal IXC-150 Cask Detonation Report

A set of experiments were conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory’s firing point 88 to determine the blast pressure and effects of a stoichiometric gas mixture of Hydrogen (H 2 ) and Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) on the IXC-150 Storage Pad Vent Stack assemblies. The Lab was asked to design, build, and test the vent stack assemblies using a reaction gas volume of 340 in 3 that mimics the Tank Side Cesium Removal (TSCR) Ion Exchange Column (IXC) assembly. The experimental system with vent stack assembly was designed with input from the Washington River Protection Services (WRPS) to ensure an accurate test setup. The tests were conducted at LANL on the newly built filter/gas assembly at the end of April 2021 timeframe, using WRPS supplied vent stack assemblies and internal HEPA filters. The objective of these tests was to observe that the structural integrity of the vent stack assemblies was maintained and determine the resulting blast overpressures at a distance of 16 and 32 inches from the assembly. All work was performed under the LANL Quality Assurance Program (SD330), using a graded application of ASME NQA-1- 2008/NQA-1a-2009. To ensure that all client quality assurance (QA) expectations were addressed, evaluation of the end data needs was performed and the appropriate controls applied for this work.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

FY21 Status Report: Probabilistic SCC Model for SNF Dry Storage Canisters

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is an important failure degradation mechanism for storage of spent nuclear fuel. Since 2014, Sandia National Laboratories has been developing a probabilistic methodology for predicting SCC. The model is intended to provide qualitative assessment of data needs, model sensitivities, and future model development. In fiscal year 2021, improvement of the SCC model focused on the salt deposition, maximum pit size, and crack growth rate models.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

The First Neptunium Dioxide Neutron Diffraction Experiment at HFIR

Here we present the first neutron diffraction experiment of a 50 mg sample of neptunium(IV) dioxide (NpO 2 ) powder at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) using the wide-angle neutron diffractometer (WAND 2 ) HB-2C. We also provide a brief literature survey to pinpoint gaps in the crystal, electronic, and magnetic structure of NpO 2 to determine the optimum experiment to be pursued in the next HFIR user proposal cycle. Characterizing actinide materials with neutron diffraction, inelastic scattering, neutron imaging, polarized neutron studies, and small-angle neutron scattering techniques will increase our understanding of 5f electron behavior and elucidate atomic and magnetic structural properties. This strategy will help fill gaps in the literature and provide theoretical physicists with the data needed to build physical and chemical models to guide and validate computational methods. These methods may be used for predicting structural and chemical features of actinide-based materials. This proof-of-principle effort begins to uncover how to advance actinide science and technology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) using neutron capabilities. This effort has already sparked collaborative discussions between researchers outside the Radioisotope Science and Technology Division, including theoretical physicists from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division and beamline scientists in the Neutron Scattering Division. We intend to continue pursuing neutron experiments and develop a scientific strategy focused on studying transuranium elements (e.g., Np, Pu, Am, and Cm) using the advanced neutron capabilities at ORNL.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗