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At least 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Constitutive relationships for anisotropic high-temperature alloys

A constitutive theory is presented for representing the anisotropic viscoplastic behavior of high temperature alloys that posses directional properties resulting from controlled grain growth or solidification. The theory is an extension of a viscoplastic model that was applied in structural analyses involving isotropic metals. Anisotropy is introduced through the definition of a vector field that identifies a preferential (solidification) direction at each material point. Following the development of a full multiaxial theory, application is made to homogeneously stressed elements in pure shear and to a uniaxially stressed rectangular block in plane stress with the stress direction oriented at an arbitrary angle with the material direction. It is shown that an additional material parameter introduced to characterize the degree of anisotropy can be determined on the basis of simple creep tests.

Robinson, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Structure in the nucleus of NGC 1068 at 10 microns

New 8 to 13 micron array camera images of the central kiloparsec of Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 resolve structure that is similar to that observed at visible and radio wavelengths. The images reveal an infrared source which is extended and asymmetric, with its long axis oriented at P.A. 33 deg. Maps of the spatial distribution of 8 to 13 micron color temperature and warm dust opacity are derived from the multiwavelength infrared images. The results suggest that there exist two pointlike luminosity sources in the central regions of NGC 1068, with the brighter source at the nucleus and the fainter one some 100 pc to the northeast. This geometry strengthens the possibility that the 10 micron emission observed from grains in the nucleus is powered by a nonthermal source. In the context of earlier visible and radio studies, these results considerably strengthen the case for jet induced star formation in NGC 1068.

Tresch-Fienberg, R.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Comparison of Biotite Elastic Properties Recovered by Spherical Nanoindentations and Atomistic Simulations — Influence of Nano-Scale Defects in Phyllosilicates

Phyllosilicate minerals, due to their sheets structure and morphology, are known to cause anisotropy in bulk rock properties and make the bulk rock more compliant. Accurately characterizing the micromechanical behavior of phyllosilicate minerals from laboratory observations, which eventually translates to the bulk rock behavior, is still challenging due to their fine-grained nature. Recent advances in atomistic simulations open the possibility of theoretically investigating such mineral mechanical behavior. We compare the elastic properties of biotites recovered by spherical nanoindentation with those predicted from density functional theory (DFT) simulations to investigate to what extent theoretical predictions reproduce actual phyllosilicate properties. Spherical nanoindentation was conducted using schist rocks from Poorman Formation, South Dakota, USA, to recover continuous indentation stress-strain curves. Loading in the layer-normal orientation shows an average indentation modulus (M) of about 35 GPa, while loading in the layer-parallel orientation gives a higher average of about 95 GPa. To facilitate comparison, the elastic stiffness constants (cij) determined from DFT were converted to indentation modulus (M) using solutions proposed in this study. The majority of the nanoindentation modulus results are below the values inferred from the simulation results representing ideal defect-free minerals. We suggest that crystal defects present at the nano-scale, potentially ripplocations, are the dominant cause of the lower indentation modulus recovered from nanoindentation compared to those inferred from DFT simulations. Results highlight the importance of acknowledging the defects that exist down to the nano-scale as it modifies the mechanical properties of phyllosilicates compared to its pure defect-free form.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1979

Some TEM observations of Al2O3 scales formed on NiCrAl alloys

The microstructural development of Al2O3 scales on NiCrAl alloys has been examined by transmission electron microscopy. Voids have been observed within grains in scales formed on a pure NiCrAl alloy. Both voids and oxide grains grew measurably with oxidation time at 1100 C. The size and amount of porosity decreased towards the oxide-metal growth interface. It was postulated that the voids resulted from an excess number of oxygen vacancies near the oxide-metal interface. Short-circuit diffusion paths were discussed in reference to current growth stress models for oxide scales. Transient oxidations of pure, Y-doped, and Zr-doped NiCrAl was also examined. Oriented alpha-(Al,Cr)2O3 and Ni(Al,Cr)2O4 scales often coexisted in layered structures on all three alloys. Close-packed oxygen planes and directions in the corundum and spinel layers were parallel. The close relationships between oxide layers provided a gradual transition from initial transient scales to steady state Al2O3 growth.

Smialek, J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Constitutive relationships for anisotropic high-temperature alloys

A constitutive theory is presented for representing the anisotropic viscoplastic behavior of high-temperature alloys that possess directional properties resulting from controlled grain growth or solidification. The theory is an extension of a viscoplastic model that has been applied in structural analyses involving isotropic metals. Anisotropy is introduced through the definition of a vector field that identifies a preferential (solidification) direction at each material point. Following the development of a full multiaxial theory, application is made to homogeneously stressed elements in pure shear and to a uniaxially stressed rectangular block in plane stress with the stress direction oriented at an arbitrary angle with the material direction. It is shown that an additional material parameter introduced to characterize the degree of anisotropy can be determined on the basis of simple creep tests.

Robinson, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Hyperthermal atomic oxygen generator

Characterization of the transport properties of oxygen through silver was continued. Specifically, experiments measuring the transport through Ag(111), Ag(110), Ag(100) single crystals and through Ag0.05 Zr alloy were completed. In addition, experiments using glow discharge excitation of oxygen to assist in the transport were completed. It was found that the permeability through the different orientations of single crystal Ag was the same, but significant differences existed in the diffusivity. The experimental ratio of diffusivities, however, was in reasonable agreement with theoretical estimates. Since the solubilities of orientations must be the same, this suggests some problems with the assumption K = DS. The glow discharge experiments show that there is a substantial increase in transport (factor of six) when the upstream pressure is dissociated to some fraction of atoms (which have a much higher sticking coefficient). These results indicate that there is a significant surface limitation because of dissociative adsorption of the molecules. Experiments with the Ag0.05 Zr alloy and its high-grain boundary and defect density show a permeability of greater than a factor of two over ordinary polycrystalline Ag, but it is unclear as to whether this is because of enhanced transport through these defects or whether the Zr and defects on the surface increased the sticking coefficient and therefore the transport.

Khandelwal, Govind S.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Spirit at Gusev Crater: Preliminary Observations, Potential Processes and Hypotheses

Spirit landed in a flat plain in Gusev crater with local undulations at meters scales generated by ridges covered with blocks, some of them looking rounded. Several, flat-topped, mesas are visible in the far field in direction of Ma adim Vallis. A set of north/south oriented hills reaches approximately 150 m elevation to the east of the landing site (LS). A dipping brighter unit with possibly some scarps is associated with it. This setting could be consistent with layering observed on the MOC images of the hills, local exposure of material with variable dust cover, or deflated or allochtonous material. Numerous small depressions are visible from LS referred to as "Columbia Memorial Station"* (CMS). Floors are partially filled with finer-grained, high albedo material. At least one of them, nicknamed "Sleepy Hollow"* (approximately 30 m diameter) may be an eroded secondary impact crater. It is unclear if they can all be related to small impact structures. Some of them are elongated and aligned with the ridges. The morphology of rocks and soil at this Gusev Crater is presented. Evidence of dynamic aeolian action along this Crater is also discussed.

Cabrol, N. A.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Why Seeding Works When Nucleation Barriers Vanish

Crystallization is a process governed by the interplay between nucleation and growth. While crystalline seeds are known to reduce nucleation barriers and accelerate crystallization under nucleation-limited conditions, their influence when nucleation is not the limiting step remains poorly understood. This creates a mechanistic puzzle in systems where nucleation barriers are already negligible, yet seeding still accelerates crystallization. Here, the synthesis of zeolites is a quintessential example of growth-limited crystallization in which seeds accelerate the process despite negligible homogeneous nucleation barriers. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations─validated across two zeolites and the unrelated case of ice crystallization─we establish that growth-limited crystallization produces many small, misoriented crystallites whose slow coarsening into larger domains controls the emergence of X-ray-detectable crystallinity. Local crystalline order, structural coherence, and X-ray detectability are therefore kinetically decoupled milestones: the first can be reached rapidly while the latter two lag significantly. Seeds resolve this lag by imposing a common orientational registry on nascent crystallites, enabling their coherent coalescence into large seed-bound domains. This early coherence-building step produces a crystallite-size asymmetry that accelerates subsequent coarsening, advancing the onset of X-ray-detectable crystallinity without necessarily increasing the nucleated fraction. We conclude that under growth-limited conditions, the apparent induction period observed in powder X-ray diffraction reflects the time required to build long-range coherence, not the time to form crystalline material. Accordingly, seeds function not primarily by reducing nucleation barriers but by enforcing spatial coherence, thereby shortening the time required to develop long-range order detectable by X-ray diffraction.

Growth-Limited Crystallization↗
NASA NTRS1993

Studying the kinetics of magnetization in high Tc superconductors

We report the first microscopic maps of magnetic induction in YBa2Cu3O(7-x) crystals which directly show the dependence of flux flow on twin density, polytwin block, and twin boundary orientation. These maps were obtained by means of a recently-improved magneto-optical imaging technique. Pinning was lowest in untwinned regions and increasing with increasing twin density. Anisotropy in twin boundary pinning, defined as the ratio of the magnetic induction gradient across twin boundaries to that along twin boundaries, was 10 at 17 K; this ratio increased with increasing temperature. In polycrystals, twin boundaries also had a strongly anisotropic effect on flux flow into a grain from a grain boundary.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2022

Austenitic parent grain reconstruction in martensitic steel using deep learning

In this work we develop a deep convolutional architecture to estimate the prior austenite structure from observed martensite electron backscatter diffraction micrographs. A novel data augmentation strategy randomizes the global reference coordinate system which makes it possible to train our model from only four micrographs. The model is much faster than algorithmic approaches and generalizes well when applied to micrographs of a different material. Empirical evidence suggests the efficacy of the model depends on the scale of the microstructure and receptive field of the vision model. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that modern computer vision approaches are well suited for capturing complex spatial-orientation patterns present in orientation imaging micrographs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1984

X-radiography of slices of the Allende Meteorite

A 2.2 kg fragment of the Allende Meteorite was derinded and sliced by bandsawing. Several X-radiographs were made of all slices. The following features are resolved: grains of blocky troilite (bright spots), troilite rimmed chondrules (bright halos), chondrules with central vugs (dim halos), white aggregates (dark patches), and dark inclusions (medium dark patches). The number of FeS grains larger than about 0.5 mm is one per 6 + or - 1 gram of this fragment. Their concentration appears to be uniform at the 1 kg weight level, but is not uniform at the 100 g level. The number of FeS rimmed chondrules is one per 10 g. Their concentration is also nonuniform at the 100 g weight level. The number of white aggregates is roughly one per 20 g. These disc shaped objects show a distinct preferred orientation of the axis orthogonal to the plane of the disc. Chondrules with central vugs are numerous. Linear and curved arrays of chondrules, up to a few cm long, were observed. An interpretation of the observed features is given.

Smith, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Micrometeorites and solar flare particles in and out of the ecliptic

Using crystals grown into vugs from oriented lunar rocks as directional detectors of cosmic dust particles and solar flare nuclei, I have measured the angular distribution of the flux of micrometeoroids of mass 30 attograms to 80 femtograms. Hypervelocity impact craters of diameter 500 A to 10 microns and tracks from solar flare nuclei of energy 100 keV/amu to 20 MeV/amu were observed in crystals from rock 71055 facing lunar south and in crystals from rock 74255 facing lunar east. I have found that dust grains both in ecliptic orbits and in orbits inclined to the ecliptic have virtually identical mass-frequency distributions and similar shapes. I have evaluated the micrometeoroid fluxes after determining the exposure ages of the individual vug crystals by measuring the solar flare track density gradients in each crystal. The flux of particles of mass greater than 4 femtograms confined to the ecliptic is in good agreement with satellite measurements, suggesting that the micrometeoroid flux has been relatively constant over the past 35,000 yr. The flux of particles producing microcraters on a lunar surface facing south is lower than the ecliptic flux by a factor of about 7.

Hutcheon, I. D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Zodiacal emission. II - Dust near ecliptic

The location and brightness of the peak zodiacal emission are derived from IRAS observations of the diffuse infrared background radiation. A uniform ellipsoid geometrical model is fitted to the latitudes of peak brightness, from which the orientation of the surface of maximum dust density near the earth's orbit is derived. Deviations from the uniform ellipsoid indicate that this surface bends toward the invariable plane of the solar system beyond 2.5 AU from the sun. The variations of the peak zodiacal emission brightness with solar elongation and observation date allow two independent determinations of the gradient of the volume emissivity of interplanetary dust. Combined with theoretical calculations of the infrared emission from silicate and graphite grains heated by the sun, the gradient of the dust density is found to be n proportional to r exp (-1.1 + or - 0.2). Systematic brightness variations with ecliptic longitude reveal two potential asymmetries in the dust complex: excess emission following the earth in its orbit, and excess emission along lines of sight with ecliptic longitude lambda = 190 + or - 20 deg and solar lambda about 100 deg.

Reach, William T.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Microstructure Modeling of 3rd Generation Disk Alloys

The objective of this program is to model, validate, and predict the precipitation microstructure evolution, using PrecipiCalc (QuesTek Innovations LLC) software, for 3rd generation Ni-based gas turbine disc superalloys during processing and service, with a set of logical and consistent experiments and characterizations. Furthermore, within this program, the originally research-oriented microstructure simulation tool will be further improved and implemented to be a useful and user-friendly engineering tool. In this report, the key accomplishment achieved during the second year (2008) of the program is summarized. The activities of this year include final selection of multicomponent thermodynamics and mobility databases, precipitate surface energy determination from nucleation experiment, multiscale comparison of predicted versus measured intragrain precipitation microstructure in quench samples showing good agreement, isothermal coarsening experiment and interaction of grain boundary and intergrain precipitates, primary microstructure of subsolvus treatment, and finally the software implementation plan for the third year of the project. In the following year, the calibrated models and simulation tools will be validated against an independently developed experimental data set, with actual disc heat treatment process conditions. Furthermore, software integration and implementation will be developed to provide material engineers valuable information in order to optimize the processing of the 3rd generation gas turbine disc alloys.

Jou, Herng-Jeng↗
NASA NTRS1993

Studying the kinetics of magnetization in high Tc superconductors

The first microscopic maps of magnetic induction in YBa2Cu3O(7-x) crystals which directly show the dependence of flux flow on twin density and polytwin block and twin boundary orientation are reported. These maps were obtained by means of a recently-improved magneto-optical imaging technique. Pinning was lowest in untwinned regions and increased with increasing twin density. An isotropy in twin boundary pinning, defined as the ratio of the magnetic induction gradient across twin boundaries to that along twin boundaries, was 10 at 17 K; this ratio increased with increasing temperature. In polycrystals, twin boundaries also had a strongly anisotropic effect on flux flow into a grain from a grain boundary.

Turchinskaya, Marina↗
DOE OSTI2026

Quantitative characterization of gradient microstructures: A study on friction stir spot processing of pure cobalt

Heterogeneous microstructures in polycrystalline metals can enhance the strength and ductility, outperforming homogeneous structures of similar composition. This study investigates deformed cobalt via friction stir spot processing with varying dwell times to uncover the effects of plastic deformation and heat generation on the formation of morphological, phase, and grain boundary character gradients. A new approach to quantify the morphological gradients in materials, which describes grain morphology in terms of density followed by parametric regression, enables direct quantification of processing depth and gradient sharpness. Results show that longer processing times increase the steepness of morphological gradients and reduce the deformation depth for friction stir spot processing with low plunge depths and high tool rotational speeds. The amount of retained FCC is increased in the shorter processing conditions, primarily due to refined grain size, increased defect content, and reduced heat generation. Crystallographic texture analysis of the HCP phase indicated a dominant B-fiber described by (0001) ∥ shear plane normal in the extreme processing conditions and the formation of a P-fiber, shear direction ∥ ⟨11$\bar2$0⟩ for intermediate dwell times. The texture of the FCC phase for low processing times was a C texture {100}⟨011⟩ where longer processing times were dominated by a [001] fiber texture with a main {110}⟨100⟩ orientation and emergence of a slight [111] fiber in the longest processing condition. The approaches outlined in this work give insight into quantifying gradients and improve the understanding of highly deformed cobalt.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1995

Polarimetric scattering from layered media with multiple species of scatterers

Geophysical media are usually heterogeneous and contain multiple species of scatterers. In this paper a model is presented to calculate effective permittivities and polarimetric backscattering coefficients of multispecies-layered media. The same physical description is consistently used in the derivation of both permittivities and scattering coefficients. The strong permittivity fluctuation theory is extended to account for the multiple species of scatterers with a general ellipsoidal shape whose orientations are randomly distributed. Under the distorted Born approximation, polarimetric scattering coefficients are obtained. These calculations are applicable to the special cases of spheroidal and spherical scatterers. The model is used to study effects of scatterer shapes and multispecies mixtures on polarimetric signatures of heterogeneous media. The multispecies model accounts for moisture content in scattering media such as snowpack in an ice sheet. The results indicate a high sensitivity of backscatter to moisture with a stronger dependence for drier snow and ice grain size is important to the backscatter. For frost-covered saline ice, model results for bare ice are compared with measured data at C band and then the frost flower formation is simulated with a layer of fanlike ice crystals including brine infiltration over a rough interface. The results with the frost cover suggest a significant increase in scattering coefficients and a polarimetric signature closer to isotropic characteristics compared to the thin saline ice case.

Nghiem, S. V.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Flux Synthesis of A-site Disordered Perovskite La 0.5 M 0.5 TiO 3 (M$=$Li, Na, K) Nanorods Tailored for Solid Composite Electrolytes

Inorganic fillers play an important role in improving the ionic conductivity of solid composite electrolytes (SCEs) for Li-ion batteries. Among inorganic fillers, perovskite-type lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO) stands out for its high bulk Li + conductivity on the order of 10 -3 S cm -1 at room temperature. According to a literature survey, the optimal LLTO filler should possess the following characteristics: i) a single-crystal structure to minimize grain boundaries; ii) a small particle size to increase the filler/polymer interface area; iii) a 1D morphology for efficient interface channels; and iv) cubic symmetry to facilitate rapid bulk Li + diffusion within the filler. However, the synthesis of single crystal, 1D LLTO nanomaterials with cubic symmetry is challenging. Herein, a flux strategy is developed to synthesize La 0.5 M 0.5 TiO 3 (LMTO, M$=$Li, Na, and K) single-crystal nanorods with an A-site-disordered, cubic perovskite phase. The flux media promotes the oriented growth of nanorods, prevents nanorods from sintering, and provides multiple alkali metal ion doping at M sites to stabilize the cubic phase. SCEs compositing the Li + -conducting LMTO nanorods as fillers and poly[vinylene carbonate- co -lithium sulfonyl(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide methacrylate] matrix exhibit more than twice the conductivity of the neat polymer electrolyte (30.6 vs 14.0 µS cm -1 at 303 K).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗