Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “CORE”

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 559 records · Page 31

Formation, history and energetics of cores in the terrestrial planets

The size, evolution and energetics of the earth's core and the probable central, metalic cores of Mercury, Venus, the moon and Mars are discussed. The cores of Mercury, Mars and the earth are considered likely to decrease in relative mass and volume with distance from the sun; the moon does not fit this sequence and data from Venus are insufficient. Core formation is concluded to have occurred early (prior to four billion years ago) on the earth and Mercury, while that on the moon would have occurred over a longer interval and the core of Mars would have formed much later. Of the possible energy sources in planetary cores able to maintain a molten state and drive magnetic dynamos, the energy of core formation was probably spent too early in planetary history to provide much present power, and the energy gained from freezing an inner core in the earth and Mercury are considered at best marginally able to match conductive heat loss. Future measurements proposed to improve the quantitative understanding of core properties include a better documentation of the magnetic fields of Venus and Mars and the seismometry of Mars.

Solomon, S. C.↗

The nature of the earth's core

The properties of the earth's core are overviewed with emphasis on seismologically determined regions and pressures and seismologically measured density, elastic wave velocities, and gravitational acceleration. Attention is given to solid-state convection of the inner core, and it is noted that though seismological results do not conclusively prove that the inner core is convective, the occurrence and magnitude of seismic anisotropy are explained by the effects of solid-state convection. Igneous petrology and geochemistry of the inner core, a layer at the base of the mantle and contact metasomatism at the core-mantle boundary, and evolution of the core-mantle system are discussed. It is pointed out that high-pressure melting experiments indicate that the temperature of the core is ranging from 4500 to 6500 K, and a major implication of such high temperature is that the tectonics and convection of the mantle, as well as the resulting geological processes observed at the surface, are powered by heat from the core. As a result of the high temperatures, along with the compositional contrast between silicates and iron alloy, the core-mantle boundary is considered to be most chemically active region of the earth.

Jeanloz, Raymond↗

Probing the core of Cepheus A - Millimeter and submillimeter observations

Moderate and high angular resolution (40-7 arcsec) maps are presented of the core of the Cepheus A star-forming region using CS J = 3-2 and J = 7-6 emission, which traces the dense gas component of the cloud core, and using far-infrared (450 and 800 microns) continuum emission tracing the warm dust component. Three regimes in the core are traced by these observations: (1) a small (about 0.14 pc), nearly circular central core of high density (1-10 x 10 to the 6th/cu cm) and temperature (30-100 K) containing at least 25 percent of the mass and which contains the active early-type star formation; (2) an extended (0.5 x 0.25 pc), NE-SW oriented core of mass 200-300 solar masses, temperature 30-40 K, and average density nH2 of about 10 to the 5th/cu cm and which, together with the central core, contains 60-80 percent of the total core mass; and (3) an extended core envelope of dimensions 0.5 x 0.85 pc oriented primarily north-south, and a lower density. The velocity structure of the core suggests that it is being disrupted by the high-velocity winds driving the molecular outflow and is not due to a rotating circumstellar disk.

Moriarty-Schieven, G. H.↗

Core design for use with precision composite reflectors

A uniformly flexible core, and method for manufacturing the same, is disclosed for use between the face plates of a sandwich structure. The core is made of a plurality of thin corrugated strips, the corrugations being defined by a plurality of peaks and valleys connected to one another by a plurality of diagonal risers. The corrugated strips are orthogonally criss-crossed to form the core. The core is particularly suitable for use with high accuracy spherically curved sandwich structures because undesirable stresses in the curved face plates are minimized due to the uniform flexibility characteristics of the core in both the X and Y directions. The core is self venting because of the open geometry of the corrugations. The core can be made from any suitable composite, metal, or polymer. Thermal expansion problems in sandwich structures may be minimized by making the core from the same composite materials that are selected in the manufacture of the curved face plates because of their low coefficients of thermal expansion. Where the strips are made of a composite material, the core may be constructed by first cutting an already cured corrugated sheet into a plurality of corrugated strips and then secondarily bonding the strips to one another or, alternatively, by lying a plurality of uncured strips orthogonally over one another in a suitable jig and then curing and bonding the entire plurality of strips to one another in a single operation.

Porter, Christopher C.↗

Descriptions and preliminary interpretations of cores recovered from the Manson Impact Structure (Iowa)

A core drilling program initiated by the Iowa Geological Survey Bureau and U.S. Geological Survey in 1991 and 1992 collected 12 cores totalling over 1200 m from the Manson Impact Structure, a probable K-T boundary structure located in north-central Iowa. Cores were recovered from each of the major structural terranes, with 2 cores (M-3 and M-4) from the Terrace Terrane, 4 cores (M-2, M-2A, M-6, and M-9) from the Crater Moat, and 6 cores (M-1, M-5, M-7, M-8, M-10, and M-11) from the Central Peak. These supplemented 2 central peak cores (1-A and 2-A) drilled in 1953. The cores penetrated five major impact lithologies: (1) sedimentary clast breccia; (2) impact ejecta; (3) central peak crystallite rocks; (4) crystalline clast breccia with sandy matrix; and (5) crystallite clast breccia with a melt matrix. Descriptions and preliminary interpretations of these cores are presented.

Anderson, R. R.↗

Deflections of anisotropic sandwich beams with variable face sheets and core thicknesses

A sandwich construction consists of a low-density core material with high strength face sheets bounded to the top and bottom surfaces. The construction has been widely used in the aerospace and marine industries due to its outstanding characteristics such as noise absorption, weight minimization, heat insulation, and better bending stiffness. In sandwich structures used in high-performance aircraft, the face sheets are often made of fiber-reinforced composite materials and the core is made of honeycomb. The structures may also have variable thickness so as to satisfy aerodynamic requirements. In the stress analysis, the constant-thickness face sheets are usually considered as membrane and the core is assumed to be inextensible but deformable in the thickness direction. The static behavior of variable-thickness, isotropic and homogeneous sandwich beams was successfully studied by employing a constant-thickness theory but allowing stiffnesses to vary in accordance with local thickness variations. It has been recently found in a refined theory that the analyses based on the constant thickness theory locally can lead to significant errors in structural responses if the sandwich beam is thickness-tapered and the cores are deformable in transverse shear. The errors arise mainly from two factors: (1) the transverse shear components of the membrane forces in the face sheets alter the transverse shears carried by the core; and (2) the face-sheet membrane strains arise from transverse shear deformation of the core. In practice the variable thickness may not only exist in core but also in face sheets. The thickness-variations may even be a type of step function. In this case the transverse shear stress in the face sheets and bending stress in the core should be taken into account in the refined theory mentioned. In the present study, energy principles are employed in deriving governing equations for general bending of anisotropic sandwich beams with variable thickness in both face sheets and cores. Solutions to these equations are based on a finite difference scheme. As an example in application, a simply supported thickness-tapered sandwich beam subject to a concentrated load at its center is considered. Let W' be the maximum deflection of the beam in which face sheets are considered as membrane, while W'' is that based on using the modified refined theory. It is found that W' is always larger than W'', however, the magnitude of (W'- W'') appears to be insensitive to the change of the taper of the beam.

Lu, Chu-Ho↗

Core Noise - Increasing Importance

This presentation is a technical summary of and outlook for NASA-internal and NASA-sponsored external research on core (combustor and turbine) noise funded by the Fundamental Aeronautics Program Subsonic Fixed Wing (SFW) Project. Sections of the presentation cover: the SFW system-level noise metrics for the 2015, 2020, and 2025 timeframes; turbofan design trends and their aeroacoustic implications; the emerging importance of core noise and its relevance to the SFW Reduced-Perceived-Noise Technical Challenge; and the current research activities in the core-noise area, with additional details given about the development of a high-fidelity combustor-noise prediction capability as well as activities supporting the development of improved reduced-order, physics-based models for combustor-noise prediction. The need for benchmark data for validation of high-fidelity and modeling work and the value of a potential future diagnostic facility for testing of core-noise-reduction concepts are indicated. The NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program has the principal objective of overcoming today's national challenges in air transportation. The SFW Reduced-Perceived-Noise Technical Challenge aims to develop concepts and technologies to dramatically reduce the perceived aircraft noise outside of airport boundaries. This reduction of aircraft noise is critical to enabling the anticipated large increase in future air traffic. Noise generated in the jet engine core, by sources such as the compressor, combustor, and turbine, can be a significant contribution to the overall noise signature at low-power conditions, typical of approach flight. At high engine power during takeoff, jet and fan noise have traditionally dominated over core noise. However, current design trends and expected technological advances in engine-cycle design as well as noise-reduction methods are likely to reduce non-core noise even at engine-power points higher than approach. In addition, future low-emission combustor designs could increase the combustion-noise component. The trend towards high-power-density cores also means that the noise generated in the low-pressure turbine will likely increase. Consequently, the combined result from these emerging changes will be to elevate the overall importance of turbomachinery core noise, which will need to be addressed in order to meet future noise goals.

Hultgren, Lennart S.↗

Core Noise: Implications of Emerging N+3 Designs and Acoustic Technology Needs

This presentation is a summary of the core-noise implications of NASA's primary N+3 aircraft concepts. These concepts are the MIT/P&W D8.5 Double Bubble design, the Boeing/GE SUGAR Volt hybrid gas-turbine/electric engine concept, the NASA N3-X Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion aircraft, and the NASA TBW-XN Truss-Braced Wing concept. The first two are future concepts for the Boeing 737/Airbus A320 US transcontinental mission of 180 passengers and a maximum range of 3000 nm. The last two are future concepts for the Boeing 777 transpacific mission of 350 passengers and a 7500 nm range. Sections of the presentation cover: turbofan design trends on the N+1.5 time frame and the already emerging importance of core noise; the NASA N+3 concepts and associated core-noise challenges; the historical trends for the engine bypass ratio (BPR), overall pressure ratio (OPR), and combustor exit temperature; and brief discussion of a noise research roadmap being developed to address the core-noise challenges identified for the N+3 concepts. The N+3 conceptual aircraft have (i) ultra-high bypass ratios, in the rage of 18 - 30, accomplished by either having a small-size, high-power-density core, an hybrid design which allows for an increased fan size, or by utilizing a turboelectric distributed propulsion design; and (ii) very high OPR in the 50 - 70 range. These trends will elevate the overall importance of turbomachinery core noise. The N+3 conceptual designs specify the need for the development and application of advanced liners and passive and active control strategies to reduce the core noise. Current engineering prediction of core noise uses semi-empirical methods based on older turbofan engines, with (at best) updates for more recent designs. The models have not seen the same level of development and maturity as those for fan and jet noise and are grossly inadequate for the designs considered for the N+3 time frame. An aggressive program for the development of updated noise prediction tools for integrated core assemblies as well as and strategies for noise reduction and control is needed in order to meet the NASA N+3 noise goals. The NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program has the principal objective of overcoming today's national challenges in air transportation. The SFW Reduced-Perceived-Noise Technical Challenge aims to develop concepts and technologies to dramatically reduce the perceived aircraft noise outside of airport boundaries. This reduction of aircraft noise is critical to enabling the anticipated large increase in future air traffic.

Hultgren, Lennart S.↗

Phase Equilibrium Experiments on Potential Lunar Core Compositions: Extension of Current Knowledge to Multi-Component (Fe-Ni-Si-S-C) Systems

Numerous geophysical and geochemical studies have suggested the existence of a small metallic lunar core, but the composition of that core is not known. Knowledge of the composition can have a large impact on the thermal evolution of the core, its possible early dynamo creation, and its overall size and fraction of solid and liquid. Thermal models predict that the current temperature at the core-mantle boundary of the Moon is near 1650 K. Re-evaluation of Apollo seismic data has highlighted the need for new data in a broader range of bulk core compositions in the PT range of the lunar core. Geochemical measurements have suggested a more volatile-rich Moon than previously thought. And GRAIL mission data may allow much better constraints on the physical nature of the lunar core. All of these factors have led us to determine new phase equilibria experimental studies in the Fe-Ni-S-C-Si system in the relevant PT range of the lunar core that will help constrain the composition of Moon's core.

Righter, K.↗

Terrestrial Single-Station Analog for Constraining the Martian Core and Deep Interior: Implications for InSight

We used a terrestrial single-station seismometer to quantify the uncertainty of InSight (INterior explorations using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) data for determining Martian core size. To mimic Martian seismicity, we formed a catalog using 917 terrestrial earthquakes, from which we randomly selected events. We stacked ScS amplitudes on modeled arrival times and searched for where ScS produced coherent seismic amplitudes. A core detection was defined by a coherent peak with small offset between predicted and user-selected arrival times. Iterating the detection algorithm with varying signal-to-noise (SNR) ranges and quantity of events determined the selection frequency of each model and quantified core depth uncertainty. Increasing the quantity of events reduced core depth uncertainty while increasing the recovery rate, while increasing event SNR had little effect. Including ScS2 multiples increased the recovery rate and reduced core depth uncertainty when we used low quantities of events. The most-frequent core depths varied by back azimuth, suggesting our method is sensitive to the presence of mantle heterogeneities. When we added 1° in source distance errors, core depth uncertainty increased by up to 11 km and recovery rates decreased by <5%. Altering epicentral distances by 25% added ~35 km of uncertainty and reduced recovery rates to <50% in some cases. From these experiments, we estimate that if InSight can detect five events with high location precision (<10% epicentral distance errors), that there is at least an 88% chance of core depth recovery using ScS alone with uncertainty in core depth approaching 18 km and decreasing as more events are located.

Marusiak, Angela G.↗

Terrestrial Single-Station Analog for Constraining the Martian Core and Deep Interior: Implications for InSight

We used a terrestrial single-station seismometer to quantify the uncertainty of InSight (INterior explorations using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) data for determining Martian core size. To mimic Martian seismicity, we formed a catalog using 917 terrestrial earthquakes, from which we randomly selected events. We stacked ScS amplitudes on modeled arrival times and searched for where ScS produced coherent seismic amplitudes. A core detection was defined by a coherent peak with small offset between predicted and user-selected arrival times. Iterating the detection algorithm with varying signal-to-noise (SNR) ranges and quantity of events determined the selection frequency of each model and quantified core depth uncertainty. Increasing the quantity of events reduced core depth uncertainty while increasing the recovery rate, while increasing event SNR had little effect. Including ScS2 multiples increased the recovery rate and reduced core depth uncertainty when we used low quantities of events. The most-frequent core depths varied by back azimuth, suggesting our method is sensitive to the presence of mantle heterogeneities. When we added 1° in source distance errors, core depth uncertainty increased by up to 11 km and recovery rates decreased by <5%. Altering epicentral distances by 25% added ~35 km of uncertainty and reduced recovery rates to <50% in some cases. From these experiments, we estimate that if InSight can detect five events with high location precision (< 10% epicentral distance errors), that there is at least an 88% chance of core depth recovery using ScS alone with uncertainty in core depth approaching 18 km and decreasing as more events are located.

Angela G Marusiak↗

Full core LOCA analysis for BWR/6 - Methodology and first results

As part of collaboration between the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the Swiss regulator ENSI, a study aimed at core-wide estimates of the fuel rod behaviour during large-break loss-of-coolant-accidents (LB-LOCA) in BWR/6 plants was recently conducted on the basis of a Swiss reactor. To perform such full core LOCA analysis, a methodology consisting of a multi-physics sequence of interfaced best-estimate models and codes was established: CASMO-4E/SIMULATE-3 (C4/S3) for the core modelling, TRACE for the plant system analysis and FALCON for the fuel thermomechanical calculations during base irradiation (BI) as well as for the transient analyses (TA). As starting point, reference C4/S3 models validated for all operated cycles of the given plant were used to select as situation target, a recent cycle representative of modern BWR core loadings and fuel assembly designs. Based on the selected C4/S3 cycle model, PSI in-house computational modules were developed or updated in order to set up the TRACE full core model with regards to assembly geometries, fuel rods thermophysical properties and initial 3-D power distributions. Also, an interface to FALCON BI models was established for the transfer of the irradiation history, including primarily linear heat generation rates (LHGR), for an equivalent fuel pin. For each assembly, the power of the equivalent pin is defined with the maximum power of all pins at each axial position. However, in order to reduce the computational time of the fuel performance analyses, the whole core was subdivided into groups of assemblies, each represented by the most powerful assembly within the group. On this basis, the FALCON BI analyses were conducted with coupling to the PSI advanced model for gas release and swelling (GRWS-A) and an interface was developed to transfer the calculated fuel rod characteristics at end of irradiation to initialize the core fuel rods heat structures in the TRACE model. Subsequently, double-ended recirculation line rupture scenarios at hot-full-power (HFP) conditions were investigated with TRACE in order to determine a conservative transient case as function of cycle burnup, single failure criterion and availability of safety systems. For the most conservative case of this study, an interface was set-up to transfer the TRACE results as boundary conditions to the FALCON TA models, including thus primarily time and axial distributions of the clad outer temperatures. As final step, the FALCON TA were conducted for the representative assemblies in order to infer core-wide estimates of the fuel rod behaviour with specific focus on equivalent cladding reacted levels, hoop strains as well as margins to failure criteria. The objective of this paper is to present this methodology along with the obtained first results. Regarding the latter, it is found that principally, even for the most conservative LOCA scenario of this study, the clad temperature excursion remains mild enough at all core locations such that no significant rod ballooning and no cladding failure is predicted, something in line with corresponding analyses conducted earlier for BWR/4 plants. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Data Report: UT-GOM2-1 Lithostratigraphic Core Description Logs at Site GC 955, Holes H002 and H005

Lithostratigraphic core description provides a record of the stratigraphic variation in composition, texture, and sedimentary structure preserved in marine sediment cores. Here we present graphical lithostratigraphic core description logs for pressure cores collected during the 2017 UT GOM2-1 Expedition. The cores summarized here were those that were not retrieved under pressure, but nevertheless recovered some sufficient, intact strata that represent the host lithology across the Green Canyon (GC) 955 gas hydrate reservoir. Our results here represent visual core descriptions and include split core photos and location data for samples collected during core description.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Generating unstructured nuclear reactor core meshes in parallel

Recent advances in supercomputers and parallel solver techniques have enabled users to run large simulations problems using millions of processors. Techniques for multiphysics nuclear reactor core simulations are under active development in several countries. Most of these techniques require large unstructured meshes that can be hard to generate in a standalone desktop computers because of high memory requirements, limited processing power, and other complexities. We have previously reported on a hierarchical lattice-based approach for generating reactor core meshes. Here, we describe efforts to exploit coarse-grained parallelism during reactor assembly and reactor core mesh generation processes. We highlight several reactor core examples including a very high temperature reactor, a full-core model of the Korean MONJU reactor, a ¼ pressurized water reactor core, the fast reactor Experimental Breeder Reactor-II core with a XX09 assembly, and an advanced breeder test reactor core. The times required to generate large mesh models, along with speedups obtained from running these problems in parallel, are reported. A graphical user interface to the tools described here has also been developed.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Direct Observation of the Growth of Au-Pd Core-Shell Nanoparticles Using in situ Low-Dose Liquid Cell STEM imaging

Bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles are widely used as catalysts in several industrial reactions, with core-shell structures permitting facile surface modification and allowing increased stability and durability, and cost-effectiveness of the catalysts. We report, for the first time, on observing the early stages of the formation of Au-Pd core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles via the seed-mediated growth in the presence of reducing agent, while employing the low-dose scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging with the fluid cell in situ. Use of the continuous flow in situ fluid cell platform allows for delivery of reagent solutions and generation of near-native reaction environment in the reaction chamber, and permits direct visualization of the early stages of formation of Au-Pd core-shell structures at low dose rate (0.1 e - /(Å 2 s)) in the presence of ascorbic acid. No core-shell structures were detected in the absence of reducing agent at the electron dose of 32.6 e - /Å 2 . While the core-shell structures formed in situ under the low-dose imaging closely resemble those obtained in solution synthesis, the reaction kinetics in the fluid cell is affected by the radiolysis of liquid reagents induced by electron beam, altering the rate-determining reaction steps. The enhanced reduction of Pd ions leads to initial rapid growth of the nascent Pd shell along the <111> direction at the Au interface, followed by a slower rearrangement of the outer Pd layer. The latter becomes the rate-determining step in the in situ reaction and appears to follow the oriented attachment-like movement to yield a remodeled, compact and stable Au-Pd core-shell nanostructure. Our findings highlight the differences between the two reaction pathways and aid in understanding the mechanism of formation of the core-shell nanostructure in situ.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nanoscale and Element-Specific Lattice Temperature Measurements Using Core-Loss Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy

Measuring nanoscale local temperatures, particularly in vertically integrated and multicomponent systems, remains challenging. Spectroscopic techniques like X-ray absorption and core-loss electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) are sensitive to lattice temperature, but understanding thermal effects is nontrivial. This work explores the potential for nanoscale and element-specific core-loss thermometry by comparing the Si L2,3 edge’s temperature- dependent redshift against plasmon energy expansion thermometry (PEET) in a scanning TEM. Using density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent DFT, and the Bethe−Salpeter equation, we ab initio model both the Si L 2,3 and plasmon redshift. We find that the core-loss redshift occurs due to bandgap reduction from electron−phonon renormalization. Our results indicate that despite lower core-loss signal intensity compared to plasmon features, core-loss thermometry has key advantages and can be more accurate through standard spectral denoising. Specifically, we show that the Varshni equation easily interprets the core-loss redshift for semiconductors, which avoids plasmon spectral convolution for PEET in complex junctions and interfaces. We also find that core-loss thermometry is more accurate than PEET at modeling thermal lattice expansion in semiconductors, unless the specimen’s temperature-dependent dielectric properties are fully characterized. Furthermore, core-loss thermometry has the potential to measure nanoscale heating in multicomponent materials and stacked interfaces with elemental specificity at length scales smaller than the plasmon’s wave function.

Bethe–Salpeter equation↗

A Long-Lived Planetesimal Dynamo Powered by Core Crystallization

The existence of numerous iron meteorite groups indicates that some planetesimals underwent melting that led to metal-silicate segregation, sometimes producing metallic cores. Meteorite paleomagnetic records suggest that crystallization of these cores generated dynamo magnetic fields. In this work, we describe the magnetic history of the partially differentiated IIE iron meteorite parent body. This is the first planetesimal for which we have a time-resolved paleomagnetic record constrained by 40 Ar/ 39 Ar chronometry spanning several tens of million years (Ma). We find that the core of the IIE parent body generated a dynamo, likely powered by core crystallization, starting before 78 ± 13 Ma after solar system formation and lasting at least 80 Ma. Such extended core crystallization suggests that the core composed a substantial fraction of the body (≳ 13%–19% core-to-body radius ratio depending on the body’s radius), indicating efficient core formation within some partially differentiated planetesimals.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Analysis of Dynamic Stress in The Reactor Core Barrel Due to the Pressure Pulsations

This article presents vibrations analysis of the reactor core barrel caused by pressure pulsations induced by the main coolant pump. For this purpose, the calculations of the pressure distribution in the annulus between the core barrel and the reactor pressure vessel, bounded above by a separating ring were performed. Using transfer matrix method is obtained the solution of two-dimensional problem of pressure pulsations in the annulus between reactor core barrel and reactor vessel. The calculation results are compared with the pulsation pressure measurements made at commissioning unit 2 of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Station. The distribution of pressure over the height of core barrel was obtained, which makes possible to estimate its strength for variant deformation of the core barrel as a beam, and in the case of deformation of the core barrel as a shell. The calculation results are used to assess the reliability of core barrel pre-load, which clamps the core barrel flange in place at the top, at full power operating. (author)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗