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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 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Government and technological innovation - Weather modification as a case in point.

The principal technology on which all forms of intentional, local weather modification ultimately rest is that of cloud seeding. There are three primary milestones in the evolution of such a new technology including invention, development, and introduction to society on an operational basis. It is shown that government has been deeply involved in each of the first two phases of weather modification's evolution. The agencies involved include the military agencies, the Weather Bureau, the National Science Foundation, and the Bureau of Reclamation. It is pointed out that weather modification will require some unusually flexible and open administrative devices if it is to advance in the public interest.

Lambright, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Flare loop radiative hydrodynamics. IV - Dynamic evolution of unstable semiempirical loop models

The evolution of the unstable solar atmosphere into the nonlinear phase, in response to various perturbations, is followed. The initial dynamic evolution of the atmosphere follows the predictions of linear stability analysis. In the nonlinear phase, rapid changes are confined to the transition region; these changes are manifested as a propagation of the transition region through the plasma, i.e., chromospheric evaporation or condensation. Global evolution therefore proceeds on the coronal conductive time scale. The rate of propagation of the transition region is determined by the imbalance between the energy supplied by thermal conduction from the corona and radiative cooling within the transition region itself. Flow velocities in the lower corona during evaporation or condensation are, in the cases studied, of order 3 km/s. The observed dynamic evolution is consistent with the existence of relatively long-lived coronal loops whose brightnesses vary on the evaporative time scale.

An, C.-H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The evolution of field-aligned currents as a function of substorm phase

The average ionospheric extrapolated characteristics and properties of region 1 and 2 currents are determined as a function of the substorm phase via an examination of ISEE 1 and 2 measurements of magnetic changes across nightside field-aligned currents at middle altitudes in the inner magnetosphere. The properties of these currents under consideration include current intensity, density, layer width, and velocity, and they are consistent with earlier studies at lower altitudes. During a substorm, region 1 current intensity ranges from 0.4 to 0.6 A/m and peaks during the expansion phase. Region 2 intensity varies from 0.15 to 0.35 A/m and reaches a maximum during recovery. The density of region 2 currents remains essentially steady at 1.4 microamp/sq m, while region 1 decreases from 5 to 1.3 microamp/sq m. The width of these current sheets throughout a substorm remains in the range from 100 to 500 km. It is concluded that substorms play a major role in the generation of the nightside region 1 and 2 currents detected by the ISEE spacecraft.

Chun, Francis K.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Understanding the Importance of Labile Fe(III) during Fe(II)-Catalyzed Transformation of Metastable Iron Oxyhydroxides

Transformation of metastable Fe(III) oxyhydroxides is a prominent process in natural environments and can be significantly accelerated by the coexisting aqueous Fe(II) (Fe(II) aq ). Recent evidence points to the solution mass transfer of labile Fe(III) (Fe(III) labile ) as the primary intermediate species of general importance. However, a mechanistic aspect that remains unclear is the dependence of phase outcomes on the identity of the metastable Fe(III) oxyhydroxide precursor. Here, we compared the coupled evolution of Fe(II) species, solid phases, and Fe(III) labile throughout the Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of lepidocrocite (Lp) versus ferrihydrite (Fh) at equal Fe(III) mass loadings with 0.2–1.0 mM Fe(II) aq at pH = 7.0. Similar to Fh, the conversion of Lp to product phases occurs by a dissolution–reprecipitation mechanism mediated by Fe(III) labile that seeds the nucleation of products. Though for Fh we observed a transformation to goethite (Gt), accompanied by the transient emergence and decline of Lp, for initial Lp we observed magnetite (Mt) as the main product. Further, a linear correlation between the formation rate of Mt and the effective supersaturation in terms of Fe(III) labile concentration shows that Fe(II)-induced transformation of Lp into Mt is governed by the classical nucleation theory. When Lp is replaced by equimolar Gt, Mt formation is suppressed by opening a lower barrier pathway to Gt by heterogeneous nucleation and growth on the added Gt seeds. The collective findings add to the mechanistic understanding of factors governing phase selections that impact iron bioavailability, system redox potential, and the fate and transport of coupled elements.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1989

A circuit model for filament eruptions and two-ribbon flares

A circuit model is derived for solar filament eruptions and two-ribbon flares. In the model the filament is approximated as a line current and the current sheet as infinitely thin. The model reproduces the slow energy buildup and eruption of the filament and the energy dissipation in a current sheet at the top of postflare loops during the two-ribbon flare. The two circuits considered are that of the filament and its return current and that of the current sheet and its return current. These circuits are inductively coupled, and free energy stored in the filament in the pre-flare phase is found to be transferred to the sheet during the impulsive phase and rapidly dissipated there. In the solutions for the evolution of the filament current sheet system four phases are distinguished: (1) a slow energy buildup, (2) a 'metastable' state, (3) the eruptive phase, and (4) a postflare phase. These phases are described in detail.

Martens, P. C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Vortical structure in a forced plane mixing layer

The objective of this phase of an ongoing study is to obtain detailed three dimensional phase-averaged measurements of forced mixing layer vorticity development and evolution. Acoustic forcing is being used to phase-lock the initial development and subsequent pairing of the span wise vortical structures. Phase averaged measurements of the three velocity components will permit the study of three dimensional vorticity distributions without invoking Taylor's hypothesis which is known to introduce uncertainty. Currently two sine waves, one at the fundamental roll-up frequency and the second, its subharmonic, are being used to force the initial roll-up and first pairing of the span wise rollers. The two dimensional measurements described in this report were obtained in order to determine the best operating conditions for the detailed three dimensional study of the mixing layer undergoing pairing via various pairing mechanisms.

Leboeuf, Richard L.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Looking at A 0535+26 at Low Luminosities with NuSTAR

We report on two NuSTAR observations of the high-mass X-ray binary A 0535+26 taken toward the end of its normal 2015 outburst at very low 3-50 keV luminosities of approximately 1.4 times x 10 (sup 36) ergs per second and approximately 5 times x 10 (sup 35) ergs per second, which are complemented by nine Swift observations. The data clearly confirm indications seen in earlier data that the source's spectral shape softens as it becomes fainter. The smooth exponential rollover at high energies seen in the first observation evolves to a much more abrupt steepening of the spectrum at 20-30 keV. The continuum evolution can be nicely described with emission from a magnetized accretion column, modeled using the compmag model modified by an additional Gaussian emission component for the fainter observation. Between the two observations, the optical depth changes from 0.75 plus or minus 0.04 to 0.56 plus 0.01 (sup) minus 0.04 (sub), the electron temperature remains constant, and there is an indication that the column decreases in radius. Since the energy-resolved pulse profiles remain virtually unchanged in shape between the two observations, the emission properties of the accretion column reflect the same accretion regime. This conclusion is also confirmed by our result that the energy of the cyclotron resonant scattering feature (CRSF) at approximately 45 keV is independent of the luminosity, implying that the magnetic field in the region in which the observed radiation is produced is the same in both observations. Finally, we also constrain the evolution of the continuum parameters with the rotational phase of the neutron star. The width of the CRSF could only be constrained for the brighter observation. Based on Monte Carlo simulations of CRSF formation in single accretion columns, its pulse phase dependence supports a simplified fan beam emission pattern. The evolution of the CRSF width is very similar to that of the CRSF depth, which is, however, in disagreement with expectations.

Ballhausen, Ralf↗
DOE OSTI2025

Characterization of SiO 2 Thermally Grown Oxide Stress Evolution of EBCs with Al-Containing Dopants

SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are desired for use in combustion environments to achieve higher turbine operating temperatures. However, CMCs require environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) for protection from the gas environment. EBC systems are known to primarily fail through coating delamination via growth of a thermally grown oxide (TGO) at the EBC—silicon bond coating interface when exposed to steam, which accelerates the TGO growth rate. The TGO undergoes a phase transformation during thermal cycling, which results in stresses that may encourage EBC spallation. Yb-silicate EBCs with mullite and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) dopant additions were deposited on SiC substrates with a Si intermediate bond coating and exposed to thermal cycling in steam at 1350 °C. The impact of Al dopant additions on the TGO growth rate and the SiO 2 phase transformation was assessed. Photo-stimulated luminescence spectroscopy (PSLS) was used to characterize the Al-containing phases and to measure stress evolution in the EBC following exposure using the stress-induced peak shift of the R-lines of mullite. Raman microscopy was used to map the stresses in the Si bond coating following exposure. It was found that the TGO phase transformation upon cooling increased compressive stress in the Si bond coating within 15 µm of the TGO.

Building Materials↗
NASA NTRS1986

The evolution of nonlinear Alfven waves subject to growth and damping

The effects of wave amplification (by streaming particle distributions) and damping (by ion-cyclotron resonance absorption) on the nonlinear evolution of Alfven waves are investigated theoretically. The results of numerical simulations based on the derivative-Schroedinger-equation model of Spangler and Sheerin (1983 and 1985) are presented graphically and characterized in detail, with an emphasis on astrophysical applications. Three phases of wave-packet evolution (linear, nonlinear-saturation, and postsaturation quasi-steady) are identified, and nonlinearity is found to transfer wave energy from growing or amplified wavenumbers to wavenumbers affected by damping. It is pointed out that although there are similarities between the solitonlike pulses predicted by the simulations and short-wavelength shocklet structures observed in the earth bow shock, the model does not explain why low-frequency waves stop growing in the vicinity of the bow shock.

Spangler, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Rotational dynamics of irregularly shaped natural satellites

The rotational histories of irregularly shaped satellites are studied and are found to differ from the standard picture of tidal evolution of satellite rotations. Prior to capture into the synchronous rotation resonance, a narrow attitude-unstable chaotic zone is entered and the satellite begins to tumble chaotically. It is noted that enhanced dissipation of energy during the chaotic-tumbling phase may effect the orbital evolution. The theory suggests that, eventually, the rotation stays close to one of the accessible attitude-stable islands long enough for the weak tidal torque to remove the satellite from the chaotic zone.

Wisdom, Jack↗
DOE OSTI2020

Defect cluster and nonequilibrium gas bubble associated growth in irradiated UMo fuels – a cluster dynamics and phase field model

Irradiation examination shows that gas bubble swelling kinetics is much faster after irradiation-induced recrystallization than that prior recrystallization in UMo fuels. It implies that gas bubbles in coarse grains and small recrystallized grains have different growth behavior. In this work, a phase-field model of gas bubble evolution integrating microstructure dependent cluster dynamics has been developed, for the first time, to study the gas bubble swelling behavior in the recrystallization zone of UMo fuels. Generation, diffusion, reaction, sink, emission and clustering of vacancies and interstitials are described by the cluster dynamics model while a phase-field model is used to describe the evolution of non-equilibrium gas bubbles including nucleation and growth. With the coupled model, the effect of defect generation rate, clustering rate, interstitial emission and sink rates on grain boundaries on the gas bubble evolution are systematically simulated. A set of model parameters (defect generation rate, clustering rate, interstitial emission and sink rates) is determined by comparing measured and simulated gas bubble swelling kinetics. The results demonstrate that interstitial clustering is one of the important physical mechanisms which results in a fast gas bubble swelling kinetics in the recrystallization zone. The developed model can also be extended to study the associated growth of defect and second phase precipitates often observed in irradiated materials.

Hu, Shenyang↗
NASA NTRS1996

Physics of systems containing neutron stars

This grant dealt with several topics related to the dynamics of systems containing a compact object. Most of the research dealt with systems containing Neutron Stars (NS's), but a Black Hole (BH) or a White Dwarf (WD) in situations relevant to NS systems were also addressed. Among the systems were isolated regular pulsars, Millisecond Pulsars (MSP's) that are either Single (SMP's) or in a binary (BMP's), Low Mass X-Ray Binaries (LMXB's) and Cataclysmic Variables (CV's). Also dealt with was one aspect of NS structure, namely NS superfluidity. A large fraction of the research dealt with irradiation-driven winds from companions which turned out to be of importance in the evolution of LMXB's and MSP's, be they SMP's or BMP's. While their role during LMXB evolution (i.e. during the accretion phase) is not yet clear, they may play an important role in turning BMP's into SMP's and also in bringing about the formation of planets around MSP's. Work was concentrated on the following four problems: The Windy Pulsar B197+20 and its Evolution; Wind 'Echoes' in Tight Binaries; Post Nova X-ray Emission in CV's; and Dynamics of Pinned Superfluids in Neutron Stars.

Ruderman, Malvin↗
NASA NTRS2000

RXTE and BATSE Observations of the Recent Outbursts of 2S 1417-624

25 1417-624 is a 57 mHz transient Be/X-ray pulsar system first discovered by SAS 3 in 1978. After the discovery outburst it was not seen again until 1994 when BATSE observed an outburst that peaked at 40 Srab (pulsed flux, 20-50 keV) and lasted 110 days, followed by a series of 5 shorter, 10-15 mCrab outbursts occurring every 42 days. Pulse timing analysis showed that these smaller outbursts began a few days after periastron passage of the system's eccentric, 42 day period orbit. Renewed activity from the source was detected by BATSE beginning in 1999 November. BATSE monitoring shows a 10 mCrab peak flux outburst lasting 10 days, followed in the next orbit by a 30 mCrab peak flux outburst, which to date has lasted 56 days. Regular monitoring with RXTE began during the 1999 November outburst and has continued in to the current outburst. The data provides good coverage of the low flux state between BATSE detections, which includes the periastron passage. Pulses are detected through this interval, showing that the source did not enter the propeller regime. The PCA monitoring from the lowest flux level, which occurs shortly before periastron, until the peak of the current outburst, show a continuous evolution of the pulse profile. These profiles contain a narrow notch feature which allow us to present a phase aligned history of this pulse evolution. We present a timing analysis of the PCA and BATSE observations that provide corrections to the binary orbit, and measurements of the torque during the observations. From the observed torque and flux we show that disc accretion is occurring in the current outburst, most probably was also occurring in the smaller outburst.

Finger, M. H.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Phase segregation reversibility in mixed-metal hydroxide water oxidation catalysts

Achieving stable, low-cost electrocatalysts represents a daunting challenge towards practical water oxidation reactions. Here, we report that a degraded electrocatalyst can be revivified under catalytic operating conditions by manipulating reversible phase segregation. Under the oxygen evolution reaction conditions, Fe segregation develops in the Ni–Fe hydroxide host lat- tice, with the formation of FeOOH, resulting in an interface between the FeOOH and the host lattice. A dynamic metal dissolu- tion–redeposition process accelerates the Fe segregation and formation of the FeOOH secondary phase, resulting in catalyst deactivation. Operando synchrotron spectroscopic and microscopic analyses suggest that the phase segregation is revers- ible between the water oxidation potential and the catalyst reduction potential. Therefore, we have developed an intermittent reduction methodology to revivify the catalytic activity under the operating conditions, enhancing catalyst durability. The pres- ent study highlights that tailoring phase segregation at the catalyst/electrolyte interface constitutes an important strategy for revivifying and stabilizing catalytic activity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1991

Environment and evolution of a cold-frontal mesoscale convective system

Data obtained from the June 26-27, 1985 period of the Kansas-Oklahoma PRE-STORM field phase are employed to describe the evolution of a mesoscale convective system (MCS) responsible for a heavy rainfall event over a large portion of Oklahoma and Kansas. In the case examined, the eastward advancement of deep convection was aided by the formation of a series of nearly parallel rainbands before the main precipitation area. These rainbands, which developed in a field of boundary layer cloud streets, without the assistance of gust-front convergence, redefined the leading edge of the MCS and became the locus of the most intense convection in the precipitation system.

Trier, Stanley B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Particle tracing in the magnetosphere - New algorithms and results

A fast and efficient method is employed to trace charged particles through realistic magnetospheric electric and magnetic fields, greatly reducing computer simulation times. The method is applicable for particles having arbitrary charge, energy, or pitch angle but which conserve the first two adiabatic invariants. An efficient method is used to classify drift orbits, which greatly facilitates identification of the last closed drift path or other drift boundaries. The time-independent evolution of the bounce-averaged phase space density along convective drift orbits is calculated. These three tools can be used to quantitatively describe convective evolution of the particle distribution from the tail, an essential step in understanding the production of unstable distributions in the magnetosphere.

Sheldon, R. B.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Elucidating the reversible exsolution–dissolution behaviour of high-entropy oxides in crystalline and amorphous phases

High-entropy oxides (HEOs), as a subclass of high-entropy materials (HEMs), offer a versatile platform for catalysis by leveraging entropy-stabilized solid solutions with tunable compositions, lattice structures, and electronic properties. While exsolution–dissolution of metal species in crystalline HEOs has emerged as a promising strategy for reversible active sites regeneration, the dynamic behaviour of HEOs possessing amorphous nature remains under-explored, particularly the difference with crystalline counterparts. In this work, we systematically investigate the architecture-dependent exsolution–dissolution behavior of HEOs by comparing a crystalline-phase HEO (c-HEO) and an amorphous-phase HEO (a-HEO), both comprising Ni, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Co as principal metal elements. Using a combination of in situ variable-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron microscopy, and in situ CO diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (CO-DRIFTS), the structural evolution of the two HEO phases under redox conditions was elucidated. Both materials exhibit reversible exsolution of metallic species or alloys in reducing environments, followed by re-incorporation into the host lattice upon oxidation. Remarkably, the a-HEO demonstrates more facile and dynamic self-healing behavior, with alloy exsolution and dissolution occurring under milder conditions because of its enhanced reducibility and structural disorder. This study provides critical insights into the design of next-generation regenerable catalysts based on amorphous HEOs, highlighting the role of phase structure in governing reversible metal-site formation dynamics and catalytic performance.

Wang, Qingju [Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (U↗