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Ejecta- and Size-Scaling Considerations from Impacts of Glass Projectiles into Sand

One of the most promising means of learning how initial impact conditions are related to the processes leading to the formation of a planetary-scale crater is through scaling relationships.1,2,3 The first phase of deriving such relationships has led to great insight into the cratering process and has yielded predictive capabilities that are mathematically rigorous and internally consistent. Such derivations typically have treated targets as continuous media; in many, cases, however, planetary materials represent irregular and discontinuous targets, the effects of which on the scaling relationships are still poorly understood.4,5 We continue to examine the effects of varying impact conditions on the excavation and final dimensions of craters formed in sand. Along with the more commonly treated variables such as impact speed, projectile size and material, and impact angle,6 such experiments also permit the study of changing granularity and friction angle of the target materials. This contribution presents some of the data collected during and after the impact of glass spheres into a medium-grained sand.

Anderson J. L. B.↗

Setups for eliminating static charge of the ATLAS18 strip sensors

Abstract Construction of the new all-silicon Inner Tracker (ITk), developed by the ATLAS collaboration to beable to track charged particles produced at the High-Luminosity LHC, started in 2020 and is expected tocontinue till 2028. The ITk detector will include 18,000 highly segmented and radiation hard n+-in-psilicon strip sensors (ATLAS18), which are being manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics. Mechanical and electrical characteristics of produced sensors are measured upon their delivery at several institutes participating in a complex Quality Control (QC) program. The QC tests performed on each individual sensor check the overall integrity and quality of the sensor.During the QC testing of ATLAS18 strip sensors, an increased number of sensors thatfailed the electrical tests was observed. In particular, IV measurements indicated an early breakdown,while large areas containing several tens or hundreds of neighbouring strips with low interstrip isolationwere identified by the Full strip tests, and leakage current instabilities were measured in a long-term leakage current stability setup. Moreover, a high surface electrostatic charge reaching a level of several hundreds of volts per inch was measured on a large number of sensors and on the plastic sheets, whichmechanically protect these sensors in their paper envelopes. Accumulated data indicates a clearcorrelation between observed electrical failures and the sensor charge-up.To mitigate the above-described issues, the QC testing sites significantly modified the sensor handlingprocedures and introduced sensor recovery techniques based on irradiation of the sensor surface with UVlight or application of intensive flows of ionized gas. In this presentation, we will describe the setupsimplemented by the QC testing sites to treat silicon strip sensors affected by static charge andevaluate the effectiveness of these setups in terms of improvement of the sensor performance.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

Assessing Flow Formability of Aerospace Aluminum Alloys via DIC Tensile Testing

Over the past decade, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) has championed integrally stiffened cylinder (ISC) technology for single-piece, cryogenic tank barrels on launch vehicles. The current investigation aims to extend the hybrid spin/shear/flow forming process to aircraft fuselage structures, a damage tolerance critical application. The WF Maschinenbau VUD-600® vertical spin/flow forming facility recently established at LaRC represents a reasonable sub-scale facsimile of the ISC deformation process for research and development (R&D) purposes. The objective of this study is to explore whether tensile testing with digital image correlation (DIC) is an effective way to rank the formability of candidate aerospace Al alloys and expedite empirical forming trials. Specific tensile data, such as reduction of area, strain hardening exponent, and modulus of resilience, are used as formability metrics for a variety of alloy/temper/product form combinations. Results from high-strength aluminum alloys AA 2139, AA 2050, AA 2043 and AA 2219 are compared with the medium-strength, highly formable AA 6061 benchmark. Rolled, forged and cast preform materials in both the -O temper (fully annealed) and -T4 temper (solution-treated, quenched, and naturally aged) conditions are evaluated. AA 2139 plate in the -T4 temper emerges as the top-ranked material, based on the criteria selected. Starting with preforms in the -T4 temper will result in flow-formed material exhibiting mechanical properties closer to aircraft fuselage requirements. The optimum balance between strength and damage tolerance may also be achieved via post-forming procedures that avoid quenching and stretching.

Aluminum alloys↗

Optically addressed spatial light modulators by MBE-grown nipi MQW structures

Promising approaches for achieving optically addressed spatial light modulators (O-SLMs) are investigated based on combining nipi and multiple quantum well structures. Theoretical aspects of photooptic effects achievable in such structures are treated. Test structures are grown by molecular beam epitaxy using two material systems. (In,Ga)As/GaAs and (Al,Ga)As/GaAs. Experiments show large optically controlled modulation of the absorption coefficient in the quantum well layers, a log power dependence on the control signal, millisecond and shorter time response, and generally predictable behavior. The results are encouraging for several different O-SLM device structures proposed.

Maserjian, Joseph↗

Springback and diagravitropism in Merit corn roots

Dark-treated Merit corn (Zea mays L.) roots are diagravitropic and lose curvature upon withdrawal of the gravity stimulus (springback). Springback was not detected in a variety of corn that is orthogravitropic in the dark, nor in Merit roots in which tropistic response was enhanced either with red light or with abscisic acid. A possible interpretation is that springback may be associated with a weak growth response of diagravitropic roots.

Non-NASA Center↗

Linking DSC/TGA to Cell Levels: Energetics, Evolved Gases, and Thermal Safety of NMC811‐Graphite Micro‐Cell

Thermochemical characterization of battery materials links intrinsic material properties to decomposition pathways, heat generation, and gas evolution that govern performance and safety. Despite extensive work on NMC811-Graphite, variability across partial configurations and the limited adoption of micro-cell architectures (cathode+anode+electrolyte+separator) hinder robust cell-scale interpretation. Accordingly, this work establishes a bottom-up, component-resolved methodology integrating DSC/TGA, evolved gas analysis (EGA), and in situ XRD to link decomposition pathways and energy release across partial and micro-cell configurations, providing a transferable assessment of safety and stability in emerging chemistries. In separator-free configurations, the gas–solid reaction between cathode-evolved O 2 and anode-leached Li dominates the net heat release (1139 J g −1 ). In contrast, in the micro-cell configuration, the separator hinders O 2 transport and alters the timing and pathways of other reactions, and reduces the net energy release to 618 J g −1 . Energy release was organized into defined temperature windows that provide a framework for a thermodynamic model combining quantified gas evolution with selected decomposition pathways and effective reaction enthalpies to estimate net specific energy release, with agreement between DSC and cell-level tests. Ex situ XPS of heat-treated samples extends post-mortem analysis to thermal-abuse regimes, supporting key pathway elements.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Electropolishing parameters study for surface smoothening of low-$\beta$650 MHz five-cell niobium superconducting radio frequency cavity

Electropolishing (EP) is applied to niobium (Nb) superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities, which are used in particle accelerators for their surface treatment. The EP process for 1.3 GHz cavities has been extensively studied earlier. In this work, a parametric study on EP of low-β (0.61) 650 MHz Nb SRF cavities (LB650), which will be used in pre-production cryomodule for proton improvement plan-II (PIP-II) linear accelerator, was conducted to determine adequate EP conditions for attaining a smooth surface of the cavities. EP performed with the standard parameters and an initial cathode (cathode-I) having a cathode surface area of ~5% of the cavity surface area yielded a rough equator surface of the cavity. The grain step height on the equator weld position was measured to be ~ 32 μm. The rough surface was attributed to preferential grain etching confirmed by a polarization curve showing a linear relationship between the EP current and voltage and the absence of the current plateau region. The cathode was modified to make its surface area twice that of cathode-I. The modified cathode (cathode-M) provided a current plateau region in the corresponding I-V curves measured at different cavity temperatures. The onset voltage for the plateau was found to be higher at higher cavity temperatures. Here this study revealed that even with cathode-M, the standard 18 V was low for EP of such large-sized cavities when the cavity temperature was 18 °C. EP performed at a higher voltage of 22–24.5 V with cathode-M yielded a smooth surface with a grain step height of only 0.6 μm. The applied EP conditions also improved removal uniformity along the cavity length. In contrast to the cavity treated with cathode-I, the cavities treated with cathode-M achieved a significantly higher accelerating gradient (E acc ) in vertical tests conducted in a cryostat at 2 K. The modified EP was found efficient to produce the cavities that achieved E acc of 22.4 MV/m, required by PIP II project in the baseline RF tests, to qualify for further surface processing used to enhance their quality factors.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

NASCRAC - A computer code for fracture mechanics analysis of crack growth

NASCRAC - a computer code for fracture mechanics analysis of crack growth - is described in this paper. The need for such a code is increasing as requirements grow for high reliability and low weight in aerospace components. The code is comprehensive and versatile, as well as user friendly. The major purpose of the code is calculation of fatigue, corrosion fatigue, or stress corrosion crack growth, and a variety of crack growth relations can be selected by the user. Additionally, crack retardation models are included. A very wide variety of stress intensity factor solutions are contained in the code, and extensive use is made of influence functions. This allows complex stress gradients in three-dimensional crack problems to be treated easily and economically. In cases where previous stress intensity factor solutions are not adequate, new influence functions can be calculated by the code. Additional features include incorporation of J-integral solutions from the literature and a capability for estimating elastic-plastic stress redistribution from the results of a corresponding elastic analysis. An example problem is presented which shows typical outputs from the code.

Harris, D. O.↗

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 16, No. 1, January-February 1975]

Nuclear Safety covers significant developments in the field of nuclear safety. The scope is limited to topics relevant to the analysis and control of hazards associated with nuclear energy, operations involving fissionable materials, and the products of nuclear fission and their effects on the environment. Primary emphasis is on safety in reactor design, construction, and operation; however, safety considerations in regard to the entire fuel cycle, including fuel fabrication, spent-fuel processing, nuclear waste disposal, handling of radioisotopes, and environmental effects of these operations, are also treated. Table of Contents for this issue follows. Table of Contents for this issue follows. GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: 1 AEC Working Paper on Population Density Around Nuclear Power-Plant Sites Adapted by J. Ft. Buchanan, 8 Water-Reactor Safety-Research Information Meeting by Wm. B. Cottrell, D. O. Hobson, and G. D. Whitman; ACCIDENT ANALYSIS: 29 Burnout in Boiling Heat Transfer. Part I: Pool-Boiling Systems by A. E. Bergles; PLANT SAFETY FEATURES: 43 Radionuclide Behavior During Normal Operation of Liquid-Metal-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors. Part 1: Production by C. A. Erdman and A. B. Reynolds; CONSEQUENCES OF EFFLUENT RELEASE: 60 The Control, Monitoring, and Reporting of Radioactivity in Effluents. Part 1: AEC-Owned Facilities by M. B. Biles and F. E. Coffman, 71 The Control, Monitoring, and Reporting of Radioactivity in Effluents. Part 2: AEC-Licensed Facilities by L. B. Higginbotham and J. T. Collins; OPERATING EXPERIENCES: 76 Incident at the Lucens Reactor by J. M. Miller, 79 IAEA Symposium on Experience from Operating and Fueling of Nuclear Power Reactors by William A. Pryor, 87 Recent Occurrences at Nuclear Reactors and Their Causes Compiled by William R. Casto, 98 Summary of Operating U. S. Power Reactors as of Nov. 1. 1974, 101 Selected Safety-Related Occurrences Reported in September and October 1974 Compiled by William R. Casto; CURRENT EVENTS: 104 General Administrative Activities Compiled by Wm. B. Cottrell, 110 Action on Power-Reactor Projects Undergoing Regulatory Review or Consideration Compiled by Wm. B. Cottrell, 119 Action on Nonreactor Projects Undergoing Regulatory Review or Consideration Compiled by Wm. B. Cottrell, 121 Proposed Rule Changes as of Oct. 31, 1974; MISCELLANY: 97 ASTM—Euratom Symposium on Radiation Dosimetry: Developments and Standardization (Announcement), 118 Workshops on In-Pile Filter Testing (Announcement), 119 IAEA Symposium on Radiological Impacts from Releases from Nuclear Facilities into Aquatic Environments (Announcement).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Enhanced expression of extracellular calcium sensing receptor in monocyte-differentiated versus undifferentiated HL-60 cells: potential role in regulation of a nonselective cation channel

Human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) have been used widely as a model for studying the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro. After treatment with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)], HL-60 cells differentiate into cells with the phenotype of monocytes/macrophages. We previously showed that peripheral blood monocytes and the murine J774 monocytic cell line express the CaR, and myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow and myeloid cells in peripheral blood other than monocytes express lower levels of the CaR. Therefore, we investigated whether undifferentiated HL-60 cells express a functional G protein-coupled, extracellular calcium (Ca(2+)(o))-sensing receptor (CaR) and if the expression of the CaR increases as these cells differentiate along the monocytic lineage. The use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with CaR-specific primers, followed by sequencing of the amplified products, identified an authentic CaR transcript in undifferentiated HL-60 cells. Both immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis using a CaR-specific antiserum detected low levels of CaR protein expression in undifferentiated HL-60 cells. The levels of CaR protein increased considerably following treatment of the cells with PMA (50 nM) or 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (100 nM) for 5 days. Northern analysis using a CaR-specific riboprobe identified CaR transcripts in undifferentiated HL-60 cells, but CaR mRNA levels did not change appreciably after treatment with either agent, suggesting that upregulation of CaR protein occurs at a translational level. PMA-treated HL-60 cells expressed a nonselective cation channel (NCC), and the calcimimetic CaR activator, NPS R-467, but not its less active stereoisomer, NPS S-467, as well as the polycationic CaR agonist, neomycin, activated this NCC, demonstrating that the CaR expressed in these cells is functionally active. Therefore, HL-60 cells exhibit an increase in CaR protein expression, occurring at a translational level during their differentiation into cells with a monocyte/macrophage phenotype in response to treatment with PMA or 1, 25(OH)(2)D(3), which is functionally linked to activation of a nonselective cation channel.

NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal↗

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment of Magnesium Alloy for Enhanced Coating Adhesion and Corrosion Resistance

Atmospheric pressure plasma (AP) treatment, using an open-air jet of ionized CO 2 , N 2 , or air, was applied to AZ91D Mg alloy surfaces to investigate its effects on primer coating adhesion and corrosion resistance. The CO 2 and air AP treatments formed an O- and C-rich surface layer (Mg-O-C) consisting of agglomerated nanoparticles and pits with a depth of a few microns and increasing the surface roughness by 6–8 times compared with the reference 600 grit-finished surface. Then, three commercial primers, zinc phosphate (ZnP), chromate-containing epoxy, and MIL23377, were applied on the treated surfaces to evaluate the corrosion resistance associated with the coating adhesion. Microscopic analysis demonstrated stronger interlocking between the primer layer and the nano-/microrough Mg-O-C surface compared to the untreated (600 grit-finished) surfaces, indicating improved coating adhesion and corrosion resistance. Crosscut tests of the MIL23377 primer on the CO 2 and air AP-treated surfaces showed the highest level of adhesion, ASTM class 5B. Salt spray corrosion tests showed that after 8 days of exposure, the primer coatings on air AP-treated surfaces had corrosion areas that were more than four times smaller than that of the 600 grit-finished surface. The N 2 AP treatment showed similar adhesion enhancement. The preliminary operation expenses for AP treatment using CO 2 , N 2 , and air were estimated at USD 30.62, USD 35.45, and USD 29.75 (from an air cylinder)/USD 0.66 (from an air compressor) per m 2 , respectively.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of SrTiO 3 Nanocuboids without TiCl 4

Strontium titanate (STO) nanocuboids are a novel support for Pt nanoparticle catalysts (Pt/STO). The first of many steps in commercializing Pt/STO will be developing a scalable, environmentally sustainable, and cost‐effective STO nanocuboid synthesis. Herein, Sr–Ti–OH mixtures are synthesized from various Sr 2+ and Ti 4+ reagents and treated by convection‐ and microwave‐assisted heating to obtain STO nanoparticles. These experiments clarify how phase composition of the prehydrothermal Sr–Ti–OH mixture and choice of heating method affect final nanoparticle morphology. In Sr–Ti–OH mixtures synthesized with TiCl 4 , STO is the most stable phase and precipitates prior to heating, while titania sol–gels are the most stable phase when other Ti 4+ sources are used. STO nanocrystals always form when Sr–Ti–OH mixtures are treated by convection heating, though nanocuboids are only observed if STO precipitates from the Sr–Ti–OH mixture. Microwave‐assisted hydrothermal treatment more rapidly heats the precursor solution, and thus, STO nanocuboids can form from a variety of Sr–Ti–OH mixtures regardless of mixture composition. Two microwave syntheses of STO nanocuboids are reported: one which uses TiCl 4 as a Ti 4+ source, and another that uses titanium(IV) bis(ammonium lactato) dihydroxide ([NH 4 CH 3 CH(O)CO 2 ] 2 Ti(OH) 2 ), a water‐stable Ti 4+ complex.

Peczak, Ian L.↗

Mass loss rates from O stars in OB associations

The considered investigation is concerned with an extension of an analysis of the spectra of 31 O type stars observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite to include excited as well as resonant lines. The investigation makes use of the methods developed by Olson (1981). Most of the stars are unevolved cluster members, a group which has not been treated in previous studies. Attention is given to the theory and techniques for mass loss rate determination, the correlation of mass loss with various stellar parameters, and a comparison of the obtained results with the predictions of models. A major consequence of the derived mass loss relationship is that mass loss by stellar winds will affect the evolution of only very luminous (massive) stars. It is, however, emphasized that the obtained relationship is dominated by main-sequence O stars. It is found that the subordinate lines of N IV and O IV are much weaker than what is expected in O stars.

Garmany, C. D.↗

Steady and unsteady transonic small disturbance analysis of realistic aircraft configurations

A transonic unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelasticity code CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program-Transonic Small Disturbance) has been developed for application to realistic aircraft configurations. The code uses a time-accurate approximate factorization (AF) algorithm for solution of the unsteady transonic small-disturbance potential equation. The paper gives an overview of the CAP-TSD code development effort and reports on recent algorithm modifications. The algorithm modifications include: an Engquist-Osher (E-O) type-dependent switch to treat regions of supersonic flow, extension of the E-O switch for second-order spatial accuracy, nonisentropic effects to treat strong-shock cases, nonreflecting far field boundary conditions for unsteady applications, and several modifications to accelerate convergence to steady state. The modifications have significantly improved the stability of the AF algorithm and hence the reliability of the CAP-TSD code in general. Calculations are also presented from a flutter analysis of a 45-deg sweptback wing which agree well with experimental data. The paper present descriptions of the CAP-TSD code and algorithm details along with results.

Batina, John T.↗

Angular distribution of interstellar Al-26

The angular distribution and local concentration of interstellar Al-26 are calculated for five theoretical models of its origin, as a guide for future observations. The models considered relate Al-26 to current star formation (with surface CO density as its indicator), treat Al-26 as a secondary-nucleosynthesis product on seed nuclei with the same metallicity gradient as O, assume the Al-26 ejection rate is proportional to present light output, make Al-26 synthesis depend on total H I + H2 gas density, or assume that Al-26 is formed mainly in novae. The local decay and production rates for the five models are found to lie within a factor of 2 of surface density 0.0003/sq cm s, corresponding to a present (Al-26)/(Al-27) ratio of 5 x 10 to the -6th averaged over H I and H2 phases.

Leising, M. D.↗

Random search optimization based on genetic algorithm and discriminant function

The general problem of optimization with arbitrary merit and constraint functions, which could be convex, concave, monotonic, or non-monotonic, is treated using stochastic methods. To improve the efficiency of the random search methods, a genetic algorithm for the search phase and a discriminant function for the constraint-control phase were utilized. The validity of the technique is demonstrated by comparing the results to published test problem results. Numerical experimentation indicated that for cases where a quick near optimum solution is desired, a general, user-friendly optimization code can be developed without serious penalties in both total computer time and accuracy.

Kiciman, M. O.↗

Complexity in the Photofunctionalization of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes with Hypochlorite

The reaction of aqueous suspensions of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with UV-excited sodium hypochlorite has previously been reported to be an efficient route for doping nanotubes with oxygen atoms. Here, we have investigated how this reaction system is affected by pH level, dissolved O 2 content, and radical scavengers and traps. Products were characterized with near-IR fluorescence, Raman, and XPS spectroscopy. The reaction is greatly accelerated by removal of dissolved O 2 and strongly suppressed by TEMPO, a radical trap. Alcohols added as radical scavengers alter the reaction efficiency and the product peak emission wavelengths. Photofunctionalization with 300 nm irradiation is substantially less efficient at pH levels low enough to protonate the OCl – ion to HOCl. We deduce that in mildly treated high pH samples, the main product is sp 2 hybridized O-doped adducts formed by reaction of SWCNTs with atomic oxygen in its 3 P (ground) level. By contrast, treatment under low pH conditions leads to sp 3 hybridized SWCNT adducts formed by the addition of secondary radicals from reactions of • OH and • Cl. There is also evidence for additional photoreactions of product species under stronger irradiation. Researchers using photoexcited hypochlorite for SWCNT functionalization should be alert to the range of products and the sensitivity to reaction conditions in this system.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Controlled thermal pre-treatment of ZMG232G10® for corrosion mitigation under simulated SOFC interconnect exposure conditions

The IT-SOFC candidate interconnect material ZMG232G10® was thermally pre-treated in air and in H 2 – 3% H 2 O to mitigate dual atmosphere corrosion. Bare and pre-treated steel samples were exposed to a dual atmosphere exposure condition (dry air/metal/4% H 2 – N 2 (bal.) + 3% H 2 O) for 500h at 600°C. Corrosion products and oxide morphology developed on the air-exposed surfaces were analyzed. Pre-treatments of the metal in oxidizing (air) and reducing (H 2 – 3% H 2 O) gas atmospheres provide improved passivation against dual atmosphere corrosion compared to bare steel. Further, the uniform and iron-free oxide scale developed during the pre-treatment of alloy in the low pO 2 H 2 – 3% H 2 O gas atmosphere provides an effective diffusion barrier against the outward transport of cations and oxidation of iron observed under dual atmosphere conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗