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At least 649 records · Page 36

Solid polymer membrane program

The results are presented for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell development program. Failure mechanism was identified and resolution of the mechanism experienced in small stack testing was demonstrated. The effect included laboratory analysis and evaluation of a matrix of configurations and operational variables for effects on the degree of hydrogen fluoride released from the cell and on the degree of blistering/delamination occurring in the reactant inlet areas of the cell and to correlate these conditions with cell life capabilities. The laboratory evaluation tests were run at conditions intended to accelerate the degradation of the solid polymer electrolyte in order to obtain relative evaluations as quick as possible. Evaluation of the resolutions for the identified failure mechanism in space shuttle configuration cell assemblies was achieved with the fabrication and life testing of two small stack buildups of four cell assemblies and eight cells each.

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Preliminary Content Evaluation of the North Anna High Burn-Up Sister Fuel Rod Segments for Transportation in the 10-160B and NAC-LWT

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Used Fuel Disposition Campaign (UFDC) Program has transported high-burnup nuclear sister fuel rods from a commercial nuclear power plant for purposes of evaluation and testing. The evaluation and testing of high-burnup used nuclear fuel is integral to DOE initiatives to collect information useful in determining the integrity of fuel cladding for future safe transportation of the fuel, and for determining the effects of aging, on the integrity of UNF subjected to extended storage and subsequent transportation. The UFDC Program, in collaboration with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the commercial nuclear industry, has obtained individual used nuclear fuel rods for testing. The rods have been received at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for both separate effects testing (SET) and small-scale testing (SST). To meet the research objectives, testing on multiple 6 inch fuel rod pins cut from the rods at ORNL will be performed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Up to 10 rod equivalents will be shipped. Options were evaluated for multiple shipments using the 10-160B (based on 4.5 rod equivalents) and a single shipment using the NAC-LWT. Based on the original INL/Virginia Power transfer agreement, the rods are assumed to 152 inches in length with a 0.374-inch diameter. This report provides a preliminary content evaluation for use of the 10-160B and NAC-LWT for transporting those fuel rod pins from ORNL to PNNL. This report documents the acceptability of using these packagings to transport the fuel segments from ORNL to PNNL based on the following evaluations: enrichment, A2 evaluation, Pu-239 FGE evaluation, heat load, shielding (both gamma and neutron), and content weight/structural evaluation.

10-160B↗

Performance Test and Validation Evaluation for the Neutron Slab Counter

This Performance Testing and Validation Evaluation (PTVE) reviews and analyzes the data collected with the Neutron Slab Counter (NSC) according to the Performance Test and Validation Plan (PTVP, UCOR-4443) and reported in the NSC Performance Test and Validation Report (PTVR, NDA-13-0622). The NSC was designed for quantitative Nondestructive Assay (NDA) measurements of compressor volutes from the K25/K27 Buildings. The NSC PTVP (UCOR-4443) prescribed a methodology and set of field measurements to determine the NSC system efficiency, calibrate the system, perform verification measurements, define the components of the system's total measurement uncertainty, and perform a calibration confirmation measurement. All of the required measurements of the NSC PTVP (UCOR-4443) were completed according to the Calibration of NDA Equipment Procedure (PROC-DE-0714) and the Quantitative Measurements Using the Neutron Slab Counter Procedure (PROC-DE-0723). Following the completion of this PTVE, if the data quality objectives (DQO) of the NSC PTVP (UCOR-4443) are met, a commissioning report will be prepared which specifies the limits of use of the NSC.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Linear test bed. Volume 1: Test bed no. 1

The Linear Test Bed program was to design, fabricate, and evaluation test an advanced aerospike test bed which employed the segmented combustor concept. The system is designated as a linear aerospike system and consists of a thrust chamber assembly, a power package, and a thrust frame. It was designed as an experimental system to demonstrate the feasibility of the linear aerospike-segmented combustor concept. The overall dimensions are 120 inches long by 120 inches wide by 96 inches in height. The propellants are liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen. The system was designed to operate at 1200-psia chamber pressure, at a mixture ratio of 5.5. At the design conditions, the sea level thrust is 200,000 pounds. The complete program including concept selection, design, fabrication, component test, system test, supporting analysis and posttest hardware inspection is described.

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Long term weathering effects on the thermal performance of the solaron (air) solar collector

The test procedures and the results obtained during the evaluation test program on the Solaron Corporation air-type solar collector are presented. The tests were performed under simulated conditions, following long-term exposure to natural weathering conditions. The Solaron Model 2001, air-type solar collector has a gross area of 19 square feet and the weight is 160 pounds. The absorber plate is made of 24-gage steel, the coating is baked-on black paint, the cover consists of two sheets of 1/8-inch low-iron tempered glass, and the insulation is one thickness of 3 5/8-inch fiberglass batting.

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Yield Model Development (YMD) implementation plan for fiscal years 1981 and 1982

A plan is described for supporting USDA crop production forecasting and estimation by (1) testing, evaluating, and selecting crop yield models for application testing; (2) identifying areas of feasible research for improvement of models; and (3) conducting research to modify existing models and to develop new crop yield assessment methods. Tasks to be performed for each of these efforts are described as well as for project management and support. The responsibilities of USDA, USDC, USDI, and NASA are delineated as well as problem areas to be addressed.

Ambroziak, R. A.↗

Conical Magnetic Bearing Development and Magnetic Bearing Testing for Extreme Temperature Environments

The main proposed research of this grant were: to design a high-temperature, conical magnetic bearing facility, to test the high-temperature, radial magnetic bearing facility to higher speeds, to investigate different backup bearing designs and materials, to retrofit the high-temperature test facility with a magnetic thrust bearing, to evaluate test bearings at various conditions, and test several lubricants using a spiral orbit tribometer. A high-temperature, conical magnetic bearing facility has been fully developed using Solidworks. The facility can reuse many of the parts of the current high-temperature, radial magnetic bearing, helping to reduce overall build costs. The facility has the ability to measure bearing force capacity in the X, Y, and Z directions through a novel bearing mounting design. The high temperature coils and laminations, a main component of the facility, are based upon the current radial design and can be fabricated at Texas A&M University. The coil design was highly successful in the radial magnetic bearing. Vendors were contacted about fabrication of the high temperature lamination stack. Stress analysis was done on the laminations. Some of the components were procured, but due to budget cuts, the facility build up was stopped.

Keith, Theo G., Jr.↗

Full-Scale Test and Analysis Results of a PRSEUS Fuselage Panel to Assess Damage Containment Features

Integrally stitched composite technology is an area that shows promise in enhancing the structural integrity of aircraft and aerospace structures. The most recent generation of this technology is the Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS) concept. The goal of the PRSEUS concept relevant to this test is to provide damage containment capability for composite structures while reducing overall structural weight. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and The Boeing Company have partnered in an effort to assess the damage containment features of a full-scale curved PRSEUS panel using the FAA Full-Scale Aircraft Structural Test Evaluation and Research (FASTER) facility. A single PRSEUS test panel was subjected to axial tension, internal pressure, and combined axial tension and internal pressure loads. The test results showed excellent performance of the PRSEUS concept. No growth of Barely Visible Impact Damage (BVID) was observed after ultimate loads were applied. With a two-bay notch severing the central stringer, damage was contained within the two-bay region well above the required limit load conditions. Catastrophic failure was well above the ultimate load level. Information describing the test panel and procedure has been previously presented, so this paper focuses on the experimental procedure, test results, nondestructive inspection results, and preliminary test and analysis correlation.

Bergan, Andrew↗

ORNL Package Testing Program Overview

Radioactive materials are widespread in our everyday activities which are used in many different types of industries: Consumer products, Medicine, Industry, Energy, and Defense. In the United States there is about 3 million shipments of radioactive materials per year. With radioactive material being very widespread the number of new applications to ship these quantities increases daily. As such, ensuring the safe and secure transport of these materials is paramount, necessitating stringent packaging, transportation, and certification requirements. Shipments of radioactive materials have been made from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the past 65 years. Since the 1940s ORNL has been at the forefront of the early development of regulations pertaining to the transport of radioactive shipments and associated regulatory testing. The early involvement resulted in ORNL being one of the leaders in the development of regulations and testing standards pertaining to the testing and design of packages. Today all package testing activities are conducted under the Package Testing Program (PTP) at ORNL at the Package Evaluation Facility (PEF). The PTP develops and evaluates testing solutions – ensuring that they are safe, efficient, and meet regulatory requirements ORNL PTP has extensive experience in the regulatory testing of radioactive material packages, supporting certification of Type A, Type, B, Type AF, and special form packages. The PEF serves as a one-stop-shop for design, testing, and certification of a wide variety of packages needed for shipment of radioactive materials. The facility provides the space, expertise, and equipment necessary to conduct rigorous performance testing under both normal and accident conditions or transport environments including free drop, dynamic crush, puncture, penetration, compression, vibration, water spray, water immersion, and thermal test. The PTP remains a key contributor to the safety and compliance of radioactive material transportation. This presentation will provide an overview of the program’s history, capabilities, and its ongoing role in advancing regulatory standards and transportation safety.

Martinez, Oscar [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000181814046)↗

The Evaluation of Anthropomorphic Test Device Response under Vertical Loading

During the winter of 2018, a series of vertical tests was conducted on three sizes of Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs) for the evaluation of their vertical loading response. The three sizes of ATDs represented a 5th percentile female, a 50th percentile male, and a 95th percentile male. There were two variations of the 50th percentile male as defined in 49 CFR Part 572: a Hybrid II and an FAA Hybrid III. Tests were conducted on a drop tower located at NASA Langley Research Center’s (LaRC) Landing and Impact Research (LandIR) Facility. The ATDs were seated on 14 CFR § 25.562 certified seats, in either a triple (window, middle and aisle) or a double (window and aisle) seat configuration, with seat leg spacing replicating a Fokker F28 MK-1000 aircraft. The seat and ATDs were attached to a drop plate on the tower, which was lifted to a height of 14 ft. The system was dropped onto different sections of crushable foam wedges to achieve multiple input deceleration environments. The purpose of the tests was to evaluate the differences in lumbar response, to examine scaling characteristics from sizing factors in the ATDs, and also to compare the results to computer simulation efforts. Results will be presented and comparisons will be discussed.

Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs)↗

Gum-compliant uncertainty propagations for Pu and U concentration measurements using the 1st-prototype XOS/LANL hiRX instrument; an SRNL H-Canyon Test Bed performance evaluation project

An SRNL H-Canyon Test Bed performance evaluation project was completed jointly by SRNL and LANL on a prototype monochromatic energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence instrument, the hiRX. A series of uncertainty propagations were generated based upon plutonium and uranium measurements performed using the alpha-prototype hiRX instrument. Data reduction and uncertainty modeling provided in this report were performed by the SRNL authors. Observations and lessons learned from this evaluation were also used to predict the expected uncertainties that should be achievable at multiple plutonium and uranium concentration levels provided instrument hardware and software upgrades being recommended by LANL and SRNL are performed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Behavior of damaged graphite/epoxy laminates under compression loading

The influence of three different resin systems on the damage tolerance of graphite/polymer laminates was evaluated. Testing consisted of both static compression and cyclic compression evaluation of 10.2 by 15.2 by 0.5 cm (4 by 6 by 0.2 in) laminates with circular holes, simulated delaminations, and low velocity impact. Damage growth under steadily increasing compression and cyclic compression loading was monitored. Damage size and impact-induced failures for the three materials were compared. Of the three material systems evaluated, the one most tolerant to impact damage exhibited the least delamination within the cross section due to impact, the highest transverse tension strain to failure, and the largest crack opening force, as determined from double cantilever beam tests.

Byers, B. A.↗

Design approach for the development of a cryomodule for compact crab cavities for Hi-Lumi LHC

A prototype Superconducting RF (SRF) cryomodule, comprising multiple compact crab cavities is foreseen to realise a local crab crossing scheme for the “Hi-Lumi LHC”, a project launched by CERN to increase the luminosity performance of LHC. A cryomodule with two cavities will be initially installed and tested on the SPS drive accelerator at CERN to evaluate performance with high-intensity proton beams. A series of boundary conditions influence the design of the cryomodule prototype, arising from; the complexity of the cavity design, the requirement for multiple RF couplers, the close proximity to the second LHC beam pipe and the tight space constraints in the SPS and LHC tunnels. As a result, the design of the helium vessel and the cryomodule has become extremely challenging. This paper assesses some of the critical cryogenic and engineering design requirements and describes an optimised cryomodule solution for the evaluation tests on SPS.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Structural evaluations and dynamic testing of solar electric propulsion components.

Results of an experimental and analytical study of selected Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) thrust subsystem components are presented. A mass and center-of-mass mockup of an experimental power conditioning (PC) panel was used for the PC structure evaluation. Test environment was based on that specified for prooftesting the Viking spacecraft electronics. Modal frequencies were surveyed over the range of 0-2000 Hz using both conventional test equipment and the holographic interferometry technique. Results of the forced vibration tests point to the need for some additional stiffening to make the structure qualifiable.

Womack, J. R.↗

Testing of the Apollo 15 Metric Camera System.

Description of tests conducted (1) to assess the quality of Apollo 15 Metric Camera System data and (2) to develop production procedures for total block reduction. Three strips of metric photography over the Hadley Rille area were selected for the tests. These photographs were utilized in a series of evaluation tests culminating in an orbitally constrained block triangulation solution. Results show that film deformations up to 25 and 5 microns are present in the mapping and stellar materials, respectively. Stellar reductions can provide mapping camera orientations with an accuracy that is consistent with the accuracies of other parameters in the triangulation solutions. Pointing accuracies of 4 to 10 microns can be expected for the mapping camera materials, depending on variations in resolution caused by changing sun angle conditions.

Helmering, R. J.↗

Long-term weathering effects on the thermal performance of the Lennox/Honeywell (liquid) solar collector

The test procedures used and the results obtained during the evaluation test program of the Lennox/Honeywell double covered liquid solar collector. The tests were performed under simulated conditions, following long-term exposure to natural weathering conditions. The Lennox/Honeywell collector is a flat-plate solar collector. The absorber plate is steel with copper tubes bonded on the upper surface, and is coated with black chrome. Visual inspection of the collector indicated slight discoloration of the absorber plate. Results indicate that performance degradation had occurred. Absorptivity and/or transmissivity decreased as a result of the weathering.

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Long term weathering effects on the thermal performance of the sunworks (liquid) solar collector

The test procedures used and the results obtained during the evaluation test program of the Sunworks single-covered liquid solar collector are presented. The tests were performed under simulated conditions, following long-term exposure to natural weathering conditions. The sunworks collector is a flat-plate solar collector. The absorber plate is copper with copper tubes bonded by soft solder, and is coated with Enthon selective black with an absorptivity factor of .87 similar to .92 and an emissivity factor of .10 similar to .20. It has a single glass cover of 3/16 inches tempered glass and weighs about 115 pounds. The overall dimensions of the collector are 36 x 84 x 4 inches.

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Parallel Computational Environment for Substructure Optimization

Design optimization of large structural systems can be attempted through a substructure strategy when convergence difficulties are encountered. When this strategy is used, the large structure is divided into several smaller substructures and a subproblem is defined for each substructure. The solution of the large optimization problem can be obtained iteratively through repeated solutions of the modest subproblems. Substructure strategies, in sequential as well as in parallel computational modes on a Cray YMP multiprocessor computer, have been incorporated in the optimization test bed CometBoards. CometBoards is an acronym for Comparative Evaluation Test Bed of Optimization and Analysis Routines for Design of Structures. Three issues, intensive computation, convergence of the iterative process, and analytically superior optimum, were addressed in the implementation of substructure optimization into CometBoards. Coupling between subproblems as well as local and global constraint grouping are essential for convergence of the iterative process. The substructure strategy can produce an analytically superior optimum different from what can be obtained by regular optimization. For the problems solved, substructure optimization in a parallel computational mode made effective use of all assigned processors.

Gendy, Atef S.↗