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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.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Plasmaspheric Density Troughs: Global IMAGE EUV Observations and Analysis via Global Core Plasma Modeling

To date, the IMAGE EUV camera has observed several plasmaspheric density trough features inside the plasmapause under a wide range of geomagnetic activity. From the perspective of EUV, a density trough feature appears as a channel of diminished pixel counts which spans a width of L-shell (DELTA L) and magnetic local time (MLT) inside the plasmapause. Plasmaspheric density troughs are found to be morphologically complex possessing considerable spatial and temporal variability. We present an analysis of the evolution of trough DELTA L and MLT extent as functions of associated D (sub ST) and K (sub p) history. Trough features range in size from 0.16 less than or equal to DELTA L less than or equal to 1.2 with azimuthal extent from 1500 less than or equal to MLT less than or equal to 1200. All cases of plasmaspheric density troughs studied to date appear to have evolved as a result of the inner edge of the afternoon/evening plasma drainage plume being wrapped around through the nightside plasmasphere. The structure of plasmaspheric density trough features is further probed by analyzing simulated EUV images produced by forward modeling artificially introduced regions of depleted density into both static and dynamic global core plasmaspheric models. Forward modeling suggests that (1) L-shell refilling of density troughs during storm recovery can be modeled as filling from the ionosphere toward the equator (i.e., bottom-up refilling), and (2) that an erosion process is operating within flux tubes beyond the outer L-shell wall of the observed density troughs.

Adrian, M. L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic properties of FeCrMnNi, a High Entropy Alloy

The goal of this paper was to assess the dynamic properties of a new class of materials, High entropy alloys (HEAs). Specifically, gas gun experiments coupled with recovery were performed on a specific HEA, FeCrMnNi, to measure its equation of state (EOS) and its spall strength, which is a measure of the stress required to nucleate voids under shock loading conditions. While there has been a plethora of work performed to assess the mechanical properties of these HEAs under uniaxial stress conditions as a function of strain rate, investigation of its properties in dynamic extremes remains rare. The current work fills this gap in knowledge for this novel class of materials. Our results show that the measured EOS for this material at one velocity was in reasonable agreement with an estimated Hugoniot. Furthermore, while the spall strength for this material was found to be ~1.9 GPa, with some variation based on sample location, the main failure mode wasbrittle. This brittle failure leading to formation of cracks in the material is different than the ductile failure observed in pure iron and its alloys. DOE/NV/03624--1298

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1980

Feasibility of recovering a one million-pound booster

The concept of reusing spacecraft and launch vehicles is currently exemplified by the Space Shuttle Orbiter and the two recoverable and reusable solid rocket boosters (SRBs) which are part of its launch system. It is shown that it is possible to recover launch systems weighing as much as one million pounds at reasonable impact velocities using a hybrid parachute-retrorocket recovery system. The new Kevlar materials, which have a much higher strength-to-weight ratio than nylon materials, make it possible to recover a one-million-pound booster for a reasonable weight penalty. The selected input parameters to the parachute weight equation result in an accurate estimation of the current Space Shuttle solid rocket booster parachute recovery system.

Toni, R. A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Machine Learning for Conservative-to-Primitive in Relativistic Hydrodynamics

The numerical solution of relativistic hydrodynamics equations in conservative form requires root-finding algorithms that invert the conservative-to-primitive variables map. These algorithms employ the equation of state of the fluid and can be computationally demanding for applications involving sophisticated microphysics models, such as those required to calculate accurate gravitational wave signals in numerical relativity simulations of binary neutron stars. This work explores the use of machine learning methods to speed up the recovery of primitives in relativistic hydrodynamics. Artificial neural networks are trained to replace either the interpolations of a tabulated equation of state or directly the conservative-to-primitive map. The application of these neural networks to simple benchmark problems shows that both approaches improve over traditional root finders with tabular equation-of-state and multi-dimensional interpolations. In particular, the neural networks for the conservative-to-primitive map accelerate the variable recovery by more than an order of magnitude over standard methods while maintaining accuracy. Neural networks are thus an interesting option to improve the speed and robustness of relativistic hydrodynamics algorithms.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1937

Motion of the two-control airplane in rectilinear flight after initial disturbances with introduction of controls following an exponential law

An airplane in steady rectilinear flight was assumed to experience an initial disturbance in rolling or yawing velocity. The equations of motion were solved to see if it was possible to hasten recovery of a stable airplane or to secure recovery of an unstable airplane by the application of a single lateral control following an exponential law. The sample computations indicate that, for initial disturbances complex in character, it would be difficult to secure correlation with any type of exponential control. The possibility is visualized that the two-control operation may seriously impair the ability to hasten recovery or counteract instability.

Klemin, Alexander↗
NASA NTRS1994

An experiment in hurricane track prediction using parallel computing methods

The barotropic model is used to explore the advantages of parallel processing in deterministic forecasting. We apply this model to the track forecasting of hurricane Elena (1985). In this particular application, solutions to systems of elliptic equations are the essence of the computational mechanics. One set of equations is associated with the decomposition of the wind into irrotational and nondivergent components - this determines the initial nondivergent state. Another set is associated with recovery of the streamfunction from the forecasted vorticity. We demonstrate that direct parallel methods based on accelerated block cyclic reduction (BCR) significantly reduce the computational time required to solve the elliptic equations germane to this decomposition and forecast problem. A 72-h track prediction was made using incremental time steps of 16 min on a network of 3000 grid points nominally separated by 100 km. The prediction took 30 sec on the 8-processor Alliant FX/8 computer. This was a speed-up of 3.7 when compared to the one-processor version. The 72-h prediction of Elena's track was made as the storm moved toward Florida's west coast. Approximately 200 km west of Tampa Bay, Elena executed a dramatic recurvature that ultimately changed its course toward the northwest. Although the barotropic track forecast was unable to capture the hurricane's tight cycloidal looping maneuver, the subsequent northwesterly movement was accurately forecasted as was the location and timing of landfall near Mobile Bay.

Song, Chang G.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Impact of nuclear reactor radiation on the performance of AlN/sapphire surface acoustic wave devices

The performance of an AlN/sapphire surface acoustic wave (SAW) delay line device was characterized in real time under irradiation inside a nuclear reactor. Both its resonant frequency and transmission efficiency were observed to respond to a change in reactor power. The response follows an exponentially saturating behavior after a step power increase, followed by an exponentially decaying recovery after reactor shutdown. A sensitivity analysis based on the governing electro-mechanical equations shows that the frequency shift can be attributed to the softening of sapphire’s elastic constants under neutron radiation. Additionally, a kinetic rate equation is adopted to interpret device response and describe its microstructural evolution. These results suggest that the AlN/sapphire SAW device remains functional under irradiation, is sensitive to neutron and gamma ray fluxes, and offers an opportunity for remote sensing and in-situ measurement of material properties when exposed to nuclear reactor environment.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2006

Assessment of Postflight Locomotor Performance Utilizing a Test of Functional Mobility: Strategic and Adaptive Responses

Space flight induces adaptive modification in sensorimotor function, allowing crewmembers to operate in the unique microgravity environment. This adaptive state, however, is inappropriate for a terrestrial environment. During a re-adaptation period upon their return to Earth, crewmembers experience alterations in sensorimotor function, causing various disturbances in perception, spatial orientation, posture, gait, and eye-head coordination. Following long duration space flight, sensorimotor dysfunction would prevent or extend the time required to make an emergency egress from the vehicle; compromising crew safety and mission objectives. We are investigating two types of motor learning that may interact with each other and influence a crewmember's ability to re-adapt to Earth's gravity environment. In strategic learning, crewmembers make rapid modifications in their motor control strategy emphasizing error reduction. This type of learning may be critical during the first minutes and hours after landing. In adaptive learning, long-term plastic transformations occur, involving morphological changes and synaptic modification. In recent literature these two behavioral components have been associated with separate brain structures that control the execution of motor strategies: the strategic component was linked to the posterior parietal cortex and the adaptive component was linked to the cerebellum (Pisella, et al. 2004). The goal of this paper was to demonstrate the relative contributions of the strategic and adaptive components to the re-adaptation process in locomotor control after long duration space flight missions on the International Space Station (ISS). The Functional Mobility Test (FMT) was developed to assess crewmember s ability to ambulate postflight from an operational and functional perspective. Sixteen crewmembers were tested preflight (3 sessions) and postflight (days 1, 2, 4, 7, 25) following a long duration space flight (approx 6 months) on the ISS. We have further analyzed the FMT data to characterize strategic and adaptive components during the postflight readaptation period. Crewmembers walked at a preferred pace through an obstacle course set up on a base of 10 cm thick medium density foam (Sunmate Foam, Dynamic Systems, Inc., Leicester, NC). The 6.0m X 4.0m course consisted of several pylons made of foam; a Styrofoam barrier 46.0cm high that crewmembers stepped over; and a portal constructed of two Styrofoam blocks, each 31cm high, with a horizontal bar covered by foam and suspended from the ceiling which was adjusted to the height of the crewmember s shoulder. The portal required crewmembers to bend at the waist and step over a barrier simultaneously. All obstacles were lightweight, soft and easily knocked over. Crewmembers were instructed to walk through the course as quickly and as safely as possible without touching any of the objects on the course. This task was performed three times in the clockwise direction and three times in the counterclockwise direction that was randomly chosen. The dependent measures for each trial were: time to complete the course (seconds) and the number of obstacles touched or knocked down. For each crewmember, the time to complete each FMT trial from postflight days 1, 2, 4, 7 and 25 were further analyzed. A single logarithmic curve using a least squares calculation was fit through these data to produce a single comprehensive curve (macro). This macro curve composed of data spanning 25 days, illustrates the re-adaptive learning function over the longer time scale term. Additionally, logarithmic curves were fit to the 6 data trials within each individual post flight test day to produce 5 separate daily curves. These micro curves, produced from data obtained over the course of minutes, illustrates the strategic learning function exhibited over a relative shorter time scale. The macro curve for all subjects exhibited adaptive motor learning patterns over the 25 day period. Howev, 9/16 crewmembers exhibited significant strategic motor learning patterns in their micro curves, as defined by m > 1 in the equation of the line y=m*LN(x) +b. These data indicate that postflight recovery in locomotor function involves both strategic and adaptive mechanisms. Future countermeasures will be designed to enhance both recovery processes.

Warren, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Basin Scale Estimates of Evapotranspiration Using GRACE and other Observations

Evapotranspiration is integral to studies of the Earth system, yet it is difficult to measure on regional scales. One estimation technique is a terrestrial water budget, i.e., total precipitation minus the sum of evapotranspiration and net runoff equals the change in water storage. Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite gravity observations are now enabling closure of this equation by providing the terrestrial water storage change. Equations are presented here for estimating evapotranspiration using observation based information, taking into account the unique nature of GRACE observations. GRACE water storage changes are first substantiated by comparing with results from a land surface model and a combined atmospheric-terrestrial water budget approach. Evapotranspiration is then estimated for 14 time periods over the Mississippi River basin and compared with output from three modeling systems. The GRACE estimates generally lay in the middle of the models and may provide skill in evaluating modeled evapotranspiration.

Rodell, M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Recovery of refractivity profiles and pressure and temperature distributions in the lower atmosphere from satellite-to-satellite radio occultation data

The feasibility of recovering parameters from one-way range rate between two earth orbiting spacecraft during occultation of the tracking signal by the earth's lower atmosphere. The tracking data is inverted by an integral transformation (Abel transform) to obtain a vertical refractivity profile above the point of closest approach of the ray connecting the satellites. Pressure and temperature distributions can be obtained from values of dry refractivity using the hydrostatic equation and perfect gas law. Two methods are investigated for recovering pressure and temperature parameters. Results show that recovery is much more sensitive to satellite velocity errors than to satellite position errors. An error analysis is performed. An example is given demonstrating recovery of parameters from radio occultation data obtained during satellite-to-satellite tracking of Nimbus 6 by the ATS 6 satellite.

Murray, C. W., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Methane mass transfer in mesoporous silica saturated with liquid hydrocarbons

Mass transfer across gas/liquid interfaces plays a central role in many industrial applications. In particular, gas dissolution and diffusion in liquid hydrocarbon mixtures, confined in nanometer-sized pores, is an essential mechanism during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) from unconventional formations. In this work, we have measured methane (C 1 ) diffusion in n-decane (C 10 ), n-hexadecane (C 16 ), and mixtures of C 10 + C 16 in a mesoporous material with an average pore size of 4 nm at 50 °C and ~ 8 MPa of gas pressure. A key conclusion of this work is that the diffusivities, measured in the bulk phase, for the relevant binary systems, are sufficient to predict the diffusion behavior of the corresponding multicomponent systems in the porous medium by using Wilke’s equation for the evaluation of effective component diffusivities, combined with an accurate equation of state (EOS) representation of the (bulk) phase behavior. This observation can facilitate accurate prediction of recovery processes in unconventional formations and, potentially, guide other applications that entail gas-liquid interface mass transfer in mesoporous materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2005

New Evidence for Equatorially Trapped Thermal Plasma During Early Post-Storm Recovery

Almost 20 years ago Olsen et al. [1987] reported Dynamics Explorer 1 Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer observations of equatorially trapped, cold ions in the vicinity of the plasmapause. In that study the trapped population corresponded to a local minimum in density at the magnetic equator. During that time period observations were uncovered of a local maximum in plasma density at the equator. Until IMAGE there has been no good opportunity to experimentally revisit this topic, however until now no direct evidence of a relevant equatorial process has been recognized near the plasmapause during early recovery conditions. It appears that evidence has now been found in both the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager and Radio Plasma Imager observations. The observations, conditions, and properties of what appears to be an equatorially trapped and enhanced density near the magnetic equator will be presented and discussed.

Gallagher, D. L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modeling Evolvable Water Recovery Systems for Short and Long-Duration Missions in Partial Gravity

Water recovery technologies on the International Space Station (ISS) are designed and optimized for microgravity environments, thus creating a need for innovative systems optimized for mission operations in the presence of gravity. Alternative water recovery technologies under research by the Life Support Systems division were compiled into a series of Partial Gravity Water Recovery System (PGWRS) architectures. Individual unit processes were modeled via fundamental physical-chemical process equations to simulate their method of treatment, including chemical or biological oxidation, flash evaporation, filtration, or a combination of adsorption and ion exchange processes. Dimension and sizing data were then utilized to scale each architecture. Modeling was completed on an assortment of architectures assuming three scenarios in which treatment methods could take advantage of partial gravity: a short-duration mission with a temporary surface habitat, a longer duration mission with a more permanent habitat, and a long duration mission without resupply. Total system mass was estimated to quantitatively compare architectures within scenarios, but qualitative observations were also made regarding system robustness, flexibility, and capacity to meet more stringent demands. Technologies that traded most favorably between the scenarios were those that included a pre-oxidation stage to minimize mass loading to downstream absorption and ion exchange beds, exploited gravity in liquid-vapor separation processes, and reconstituted wastewater components into recyclable material streams.

Avery Carlson↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modeling Evolvable Water Recovery Systems for Short and Long-Duration Missions in Partial Gravity

Water recovery technologies on the International Space Station (ISS) are designed and optimized for microgravity environments, thus creating a need for innovative systems optimized for mission operations in the presence of gravity. Alternative water recovery technologies under research by the Life Support Systems division were compiled into a series of Partial Gravity Water Recovery System (PGWRS) architectures. Individual unit processes were modeled via fundamental physical-chemical process equations to simulate their method of treatment, including chemical or biological oxidation, flash evaporation, filtration, or a combination of adsorption and ion exchange processes. Dimension and sizing data were then utilized to scale each architecture. Modeling was completed on an assortment of architectures assuming three scenarios in which treatment methods could take advantage of partial gravity: a short-duration mission with a temporary surface habitat, a longer duration mission with a more permanent habitat, and a long duration mission without resupply. Total system mass was estimated to quantitatively compare architectures within scenarios, but qualitative observations were also made regarding system robustness, flexibility, and capacity to meet more stringent demands. Technologies that traded most favorably between the scenarios were those that included a pre-oxidation stage to minimize mass loading to downstream absorption and ion exchange beds, exploited gravity in liquid-vapor separation processes, and reconstituted wastewater components into recyclable material streams.

Avery L. Carlson↗
NASA NTRS2024

Modeling Evolvable Water Recovery Systems for Short and Long-Duration Missions in Partial Gravity

Water recovery technologies on the International Space Station (ISS) are designed and optimized for microgravity environments, thus creating a need for innovative systems optimized for mission operations in the presence of gravity. Alternative water recovery technologies under research by the Life Support Systems division were compiled into a series of Partial Gravity Water Recovery System (PGWRS) architectures. Individual unit processes were modeled via fundamental physical-chemical process equations to simulate their method of treatment, including chemical or biological oxidation, flash evaporation, filtration, or adsorption and ion exchange. Dimension and sizing data were then utilized to scale each architecture. Modeling was completed on an assortment of architectures assuming three scenarios in which treatment methods could take advantage of partial gravity: a short-duration mission with a temporary surface habitat, a longer duration mission with a more permanent habitat, and a long duration mission with minimal resupply. Total system mass was estimated to quantitatively compare architectures within scenarios, but qualitative observations were also made regarding system robustness, flexibility, and capacity to meet more stringent demands. Technologies that traded most favorably between the scenarios were those that included a pre-oxidation stage to minimize mass loading to downstream absorption and ion exchange beds, exploited gravity in liquid-vapor separation processes, and reconstituted wastewater components into recyclable material streams.

Avery L. Carlson↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modeling Evolvable Water Recovery Systems for Short and Long-Duration Missions in Partial Gravity

Water recovery technologies on the International Space Station (ISS) are designed and optimized for microgravity environments, thus creating a need for innovative systems optimized for mission operations in the presence of gravity. Alternative water recovery technologies under research by the Life Support Systems division were compiled into a series of Partial Gravity Water Recovery System (PGWRS) architectures. Individual unit processes were modeled via fundamental physical-chemical process equations to simulate their method of treatment, including chemical or biological oxidation, flash evaporation, filtration, or adsorption and ion exchange. Dimension and sizing data were then utilized to scale each architecture. Modeling was completed on an assortment of architectures assuming three scenarios in which treatment methods could take advantage of partial gravity: a short-duration mission with a temporary surface habitat, a longer duration mission with a more permanent habitat, and a long duration mission with minimal resupply. Total system mass was estimated to quantitatively compare architectures within scenarios, but qualitative observations were also made regarding system robustness, flexibility, and capacity to meet more stringent demands. Technologies that traded most favorably between the scenarios were those that included a pre-oxidation stage to minimize mass loading to downstream absorption and ion exchange beds, exploited gravity in liquid-vapor separation processes, and reconstituted wastewater components into recyclable material streams.

Avery Carlson↗
DOE OSTI2023

Exploring the working range of automated standard dilution analysis of nutrient elements in foods by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is an important tool for measuring nutrient elements in food. ICP-OES methods typically determine analytical concentrations using external standard calibration but can be susceptible to matrix effects. The method of standard additions does not suffer from matrix effects but is time consuming and labor intensive. Automated standard dilution analysis (SDA) allows for online matrix matched calibration without preparing individual standard additions for each sample matrix. This approach may solve both time and matrix issues and has been described in the literature as an attractive alternative to standard additions. The working range of the method for nutrient elements, however, is an understudied feature of SDA that may be a potential drawback to routine analysis of foods. We evaluated automated SDA performance through the analysis of 10 reference materials and four fortified (i.e., spiked) foods spanning the AOAC food triangle. We evaluated the working range, accuracy, and precision for analyses of nutrient elements in foods. Accepted accuracy (80–120% recovery) was achieved for 10 nutrient elements, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, and Zn, when the analytical solution concentration to standard concentration ratio was less than 10. This equates to a working range for each element spanning at least two orders of magnitude. Removing outliers, Z scores (n = 95) ranged from –1.8 to 0.88, and the average recovery (n = 85) from fortification experiments was 97 ± 12% (2σ). Therefore, automated SDA applied to ICP-OES may be used for nutrient elemental analyses in samples with difficult matrices such as foods.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1987

Cosmic ray variations and magnetic field fluctuations in the outer heliosphere

It is formally confirmed that Galactic-cosmic-ray intensity variations measured by Voyager 2 during recovery from solar maximum are caused by traveling compressions and rarefactions in the mean interplanetary magnetic field. Voyager magnetic-field data are used as input to a time-independent, spherically symmetric, cosmic-ray-transport equation in the force-field approximation. The solutions closely followed the count rate of cosmic rays greater than 75 MeV/nucleon over 4 years, during the recovery phase of the 11-year solar-driven cosmic-ray cycle. This strongly supports prior theoretical assertions that turbulent interaction regions traveling with the solar wind are the major cause of the solar-cycle variation of Galactic cosmic rays in the ecliptic region.

Perko, J. S.↗