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At least 1,027 records · Page 57
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Comparison of Cu, Ti and Ta interlayer explosively fabricated aluminum to stainless steel transition joints for cryogenic pressurized hydrogen storage

Fabrication of a bimetallic joint to facilitate a material transition from a 6061-T651 aluminum pressure vessel liner to stainless steel tubing in cryogenic pressure vessels is explored using three different dissimilar metal interlayers with an explosive welding (EXW) process. Due to difficulties in directly EXW joining aluminum (Al) 6061 to 304 stainless steel, interlayers are used to prevent interaction of the aluminum and stainless steel, thus minimizing brittle intermetallic phase formation. Titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), and tantalum (Ta) were selected as the dissimilar metal interlayer materials; each having advantages and disadvantages. Further, titanium is a commonly used interlayer for this joint, but can microcrack during EXW if the bonding parameters are not correct. Copper has the advantage that it is compatible with hydrogen, but is also known to form brittle intermetallics with aluminum. Tantalum is ductile and bonds well to both Al and stainless steel, and is a high temperature metal that does well to prevent interdiffusion and intermetallic phase formation. However Ta is the most expensive metal of the three. Results of the characterization of the three interlayer bonds showed that Ti produced the highest strength joints, Ta produced the most ductile joints, and Cu produced a joint that failed with low ductility at the Al/Cu interface. Based on these results, the Cu-interlayer joint is not recommended for this application, while the Ti and Ta interlayer bonds both appear to have sufficient strength and ductility for the intended use.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2016

High-order shock-fitted detonation propagation in high explosives

In this paper, a highly accurate numerical shock and material interface fitting scheme composed of fifth-order spatial and third- or fifth-order temporal discretizations is applied to the two-dimensional reactive Euler equations in both slab and axisymmetric geometries. High rates of convergence are not typically possible with shock-capturing methods as the Taylor series analysis breaks down in the vicinity of discontinuities. Furthermore, for typical high explosive (HE) simulations, the effects of material interfaces at the charge boundary can also cause significant computational errors. Fitting a computational boundary to both the shock front and material interface (i.e. streamline) alleviates the computational errors associated with captured shocks and thus opens up the possibility of high rates of convergence for multi-dimensional shock and detonation flows. Several verification tests, including a Sedov blast wave, a Zel'dovich–von Neumann–Döring (ZND) detonation wave, and Taylor–Maccoll supersonic flow over a cone, are utilized to demonstrate high rates of convergence to nontrivial shock and reaction flows. Comparisons to previously published shock-capturing multi-dimensional detonations in a polytropic fluid with a constant adiabatic exponent (PF-CAE) are made, demonstrating significantly lower computational error for the present shock and material interface fitting method. For an error on the order of 10 m / s , which is similar to that observed in experiments, shock-fitting offers a computational savings on the order of 1000. In addition, the behavior of the detonation phase speed is examined for several slab widths to evaluate the detonation performance of PBX 9501 while utilizing the Wescott–Stewart–Davis (WSD) model, which is commonly used in HE modeling. It is found that the thickness effect curve resulting from this equation of state and reaction model using published values is dramatically more steep than observed in recent experiments. Utilizing the present fitting strategy, in conjunction with a nonlinear optimizer, a new set of reaction rate parameters improves the correlation of the model to experimental results. In conclusion, this new model is tested against two dimensional slabs as a validation test.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2013

Maximum Reasonable Radioxenon Releases from Medical Isotope Production Facilities and Their Effect on Monitoring Nuclear Explosions

Fission gases such as 133Xe are used extensively for monitoring the world for signs of nuclear testing in systems such as the International Monitoring System (IMS). These gases are also produced by nuclear reactors and by fission production of 99Mo for medical use. Recently, medical isotope production facilities have been identified as the major contributor to the background of radioactive xenon isotopes (radioxenon) in the atmosphere (Saey, et al., 2009). These releases pose a potential future problem for monitoring nuclear explosions if not addressed. As a starting point, a maximum acceptable daily xenon emission rate was calculated, that is both scientifically defendable as not adversely affecting the IMS, but also consistent with what is possible to achieve in an operational environment. This study concludes that an emission of 5×109 Bq/day from a medical isotope production facility would be both an acceptable upper limit from the perspective of minimal impact to monitoring stations, but also appears to be an achievable limit for large isotope producers.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

135 Xe measurements with a two-element CZT-based radioxenon detector for nuclear explosion monitoring

Measurement of elevated concentrations of xenon radioisotopes ( 131m Xe, 133m Xe, 133 Xe and 135 Xe) in the atmosphere has been shown to be a very powerful method for verifying whether or not a detected explosion is nuclear in nature. These isotopes are among the few with enough mobility and with half-lives long enough to make their detection at long distances realistic. Existing radioxenon detection systems used by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) suffer from problems such as complexity, need for high maintenance and memory effect. To study the response of CdZnTe (CZT) detectors to xenon radioisotopes and investigate whether it is capable of mitigating the afore-mentioned issues with the current radioxenon detection systems, a prototype detector utilizing two coplanar CZT detectors was built and tested at Oregon State University. The detection system measures xenon radioisotopes through beta-gamma coincidence technique by detecting coincidence events be-tween the two detectors. Here in this paper, we introduce the detector design and report our measurement results with radioactive lab sources and 135 Xe produced in the OSU TRIGA reactor. Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC) for 135 Xe was calculated to be 1.47 ± 0.05 mBq/m 3 .

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Evaluation of several relevant fractionation processes as possible explanation for radioxenon isotopic activity ratios in samples taken near underground nuclear explosions in shafts and tunnels

Gas samples taken from two historic underground nuclear tests done in 1989 at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), formerly the Nevada Test Site (NTS), were examined to determine how xenon isotopes fractionate because of early-time cavity processes, transport through the rock, or dispersal through tunnels. Xenon isotopes are currently being used to distinguish civilian sources of xenon in the atmosphere from sources associated with underground nuclear explosions (UNEs). The two nuclear tests included (1) BARNWELL, a test conducted in a vertical shaft approximately 600 m below ground surface at Pahute Mesa, and (2) DISKO ELM, a horizontal line-of-sight test done in P-tunnel approximately 261 m below the surface of Aqueduct Mesa. Numerical flow and transport models developed for the two sites had mixed success when attempting to match the observed xenon isotope ratios. At the BARNWELL site, the simulated xenon isotope ratios were consistent with measurements from the chimney and ground surface and appeared to have been affected primarily by fractionation during subsurface transport. At the DISKO ELM site, samples taken from two elevations in the chimney failed to show the degree of fractionation predicted by the models during transport and did not show evidence for significant fractionation due to early-time condensation of refractory xenon-precursor radionuclides into the melt glass. Gas samples taken from the adjacent tunnels in the days following the test showed mixed evidence for early-time separation of xenon isotopes from their iodine precursors.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A statistical approach to screening isotopic signatures in monitoring for underground nuclear explosions

The ability to differentiate between atmospheric radionuclide signatures from underground nuclear explosions (UNEs) and signals from other sources, such as medical isotope-production facilities and nuclear reactors, can be critical to the detection and monitoring of unannounced, low-yield nuclear events. Signatures having anomalously high amplitudes, compared to background levels, remain the best indicator in screening for a UNE. However, isotopic composition can further validate a suspected UNE signature, but separation from any atmospheric background composition is first necessary. To date, evaluating the challenges of performing this separation has typically involved comparing an observed background with a highly idealized deterministic model of radioxenon signature production by a UNE that does not consider the influence of post-detonation chemical/physical processes in the detonation cavity or the subsequent gas transport mechanisms that can also affect the isotopic composition of the detected gas signature. In addition, purely deterministic models, as previously employed, overlook the uncertainty inherent in estimating critical parameters characterizing the UNE and its detonation environment. In this paper, we create detailed, multi-parameter models of radionuclide evolution using the widely accepted England and Rider post-detonation radionuclide decay-chain network coupled to detailed models simulating physical production and transport processes affecting the gas signature. Because these models are governed by uncertain parameters including barometric fluctuations, realistic ranges of variation for each of the parameters influencing isotopic composition are then defined. A Latin-Hypercube sampling approach is used to obtain a random distribution of isotopic production and gas transport results associated with a given value of each parameter. We apply these results to background histories of two stations, one providing 4-isotope background measurements and the other providing two-isotope measurements associated with the 2013 DPRK announced UNE.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2022

Crystallization-induced emission enhancement of alkyl chain-dependent pyrene-based luminogens: Visual detection of nitro-explosives

In view of the widespread applications and urgent need for efficient blue emitting materials, the synthesis of such materials has seen renewed interest. In the present work, three alkyl chain-dependent blue emitting pyrene-based luminogens were synthesized and characterized. Here, the experimental results show that these luminogens exhibited high photoluminescence efficiency both in solution (>86%) and in the solid state (>35%). Interestingly, 1,3,6,8-tetrakis (pentylphenyl)pyrene (TPPy), as a photoelectric functional material, was endowed with higher quantum yield (72%) and competitiveness due to a remarkable crystallization-induced emission enhancement (CIEE) property. More importantly, TPPy exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity for ortho-nitroaniline (o-NA) with low limit of detection (9.99 × 10 -8 M), which is mainly due to the distinctive odd-even effects of the terminal alkyl chain. The results demonstrate that this type of luminogen can potentially be utilized for practical applications in the field of contaminant or explosive detection as a sensitive and portable fluorimeter.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Deformation and fracture of explosion-welded Ti/Al plates: A synchrotron-based study

Here, explosion-welded Ti/Al plates are characterized with energy dispersive spectroscopy and x-ray computed tomography, and exhibit smooth, well-jointed, interface. We perform dynamic and quasi-static uniaxial tension experiments on Ti/Al with the loading direction either perpendicular or parallel to the Ti/Al interface, using a mini split Hopkinson tension bar and a material testing system in conjunction with time-resolved synchrotron x-ray imaging. X-ray imaging and strain-field mapping reveal different deformation mechanisms responsible for anisotropic bulk-scale responses, including yield strength, ductility and rate sensitivity. Deformation and fracture are achieved predominantly in Al layer for perpendicular loading, but both Ti and Al layers as well as the interface play a role for parallel loading. The rate sensitivity of Ti/Al follows those of the constituent metals. For perpendicular loading, single deformation band develops in Al layer under quasi-static loading, while multiple deformation bands nucleate simultaneously under dynamic loading, leading to a higher dynamic fracture strain. For parallel loading, the interface impedes the growth of deformation and results in increased ductility of Ti/Al under quasi-static loading, while interface fracture occurs under dynamic loading due to the disparity in Poisson's contraction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

A stilbene–strontium iodide based radioxenon detection system for monitoring nuclear explosions

Atmospheric measurement of noble gases has been extensively used for monitoring clandestine nuclear weapon explosions for many years. The ratios of four xenon isotopes of interest ( 131 mXe, 133 mXe, 133 Xe, and 135 Xe) help in discriminating regular reactor operations from nuclear tests. A new coincidence-based detection system using stilbene and strontium iodide [SrI 2 (Eu)] for electron and photon detection respectively was developed at Oregon State University to address some of the challenges of the radioxenon systems deployed in the field such as memory effect, and poor energy resolution. Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) were used for sensing optical photons from all scintillation media. Real-time coincidence identification was achieved using the eight-channel digital pulse processor. The detection system was evaluated using lab check sources and Oregon State TRIGA reactor irradiated radioxenon samples. A 48-hour background coincidence spectrum was collected yielding a coincidence count rate and background rejection rate of 0.0174 ± 0.0003 counts per second (cps) and 98.9% respectively. The minimum detectable concentration (MDC) of the system was evaluated to be 0.11 ± 0.01, 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.20 ± 0.02, and 0.73 ± 0.08 for 131 mXe, 133 mXe, 133 Xe, and 135 Xe respectively. The memory effect of the detection system was found to be 0.069 ± 0.015%, which is almost a 70-fold reduction compared to traditional plastic scintillators. Here, the detection elements, custom-designed electronics, and the detector response to radioxenon are detailed in this work.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives

In this work, high-resolution prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) is performed using the associated particle (AP) technique with a deuterium-tritium neutron generator and high-purity germanium detector. Although the time resolution is inferior compared to similar systems employing fast scintillation γ-ray detectors, the strong background suppression combined with the high γ-ray energy resolution provides an important boost in sensitivity to certain key elements, especially relevant to field measurements of complex chemicals encased within thick layers of metal, such as in the case of recovered chemical warfare (CW) munitions. Results for various CW and explosive simulants contained within mock munitions are presented and compared with results obtained from traditional PGNAA measurements without the aid of the AP technique. Significant improvements in identification and discrimination between certain chemicals are achieved with the high energy resolution AP technique.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Bayesian Integration and Characterization of Composition C-4 Plastic Explosives Based on Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Key elements regarding the use of non-radioactive ionization sources will be presented as related to explosives detection by mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry. Various non-radioactive ionization sources will be discussed along with associated ionization mechanisms pertaining to specific sample types.

Bayesian integration↗
DOE OSTI2018

Detection of Inorganic Salt-Based Homemade Explosives (HME) by Atmospheric Flow Tube–Mass Spectrometry

Using a commercial mass spectrometer interfaced with an atmospheric flow tube (AFT) allowed detection of a variety of inorganic compounds used as oxidizers in homemade explosives at picogram levels. The AFT provides reaction times between 3-5 seconds with flows of 6 L/min, enabling detection levels, after thermal desorption, similar to those previously demonstrated for RDX vapors in the low parts-per-quadrillion range. The thermal desorption of chlorate and perchlorate salts resulted in the production of the corresponding anions which have higher electron affinities than the nitrate reactant ions. A dielectric barrier discharge, used as the ionization source, produced the nitrate reactant ions. In some instances, the molecular salt formed adducts with the nitrate, chlorate, and/or perchlorate anions, giving insight into the original identity of the salt cation. Urea nitrate, guanidine nitrate, and potassium nitrate were also detected as adducts with the nitrate reactant ion. Direct room-temperature vapor detection of urea nitrate and hydrogen peroxide, which have relatively high vapor pressures compared to the other salts in this study, is also demonstrated. Room-temperature vapor detection of chlorate and perchlorate salts is possible by the addition of a dilute acid which converts the salt into a more volatile acidic form. A discussion of the instrumentation, methods used, and the ionization chemistry is provided.

chlorate, perchlorate, nitrate, detection, hydroge↗
DOE OSTI2026

Anisotropic Hot Spot Formation at a Grain Boundary in Shock-Compressed TATB High Explosive Crystal

Secondary high explosives (HEs) exhibit rich microstructure that promotes the formation of hot spots responsible for detonation initiation, but the role of microstructural interfaces remains poorly quantified. To this end, we develop extensions for the generalized crystal-cutting method (GCCM) to prepare molecular dynamics (MD) simulation cells containing grain boundaries (GBs) and other crystal–crystal interfaces with prescribed tilt and twist orientations. Using the GCCM, we perform MD simulations of shock interactions with a GB between the (001) and (100) crystal facets in the secondary HE TATB (1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene). Our MD simulations reveal a strong directional dependence to the formation of a hot spot at the GB interface. In particular, transmission of the shock from the (001) grain to the (100) grain yields a hot spot in the (100) grain at the GB interface, whereas no hot spot is produced when an equivalent shock transits the GB in the opposite direction. We trace the origin of this GB anisotropy to three dominant factors: (1) the intrinsic differences in shock-deformation mechanisms and wave structures for the bulk (100) and (001) grains, which leads to distinct geometries and mechanical impedances upon shock arrival to the GB depending on which grains are donor or acceptor for the transmitted shock; (2) the different time intervals separating the initial shock rise and the formation of steady wave structures in the respective donor–acceptor configurations; and (3) the differences in time scales required to re-establish local thermal equilibrium. Interfacial hot spots form when these factors combine to impede development of a steady two-wave structure and instead induce a localized, pseudosingly shocked region that undergoes a higher rate of work production (resulting in a higher temperature) compared to when the steady two-wave structure develops further from the interface. The extensions to the GCCM approach presented here are anticipated to facilitate a wide range of MD studies that focus on understanding the role of crystal–crystal interfaces in molecular materials.

organic↗
DOE OSTI2011

Implosion and explosion of electrostatic cylindrical and spherical shocks in asymmetric pair-ion plasmas

Nonlinear electrostatic shock waves are studied in unmagnetized, dissipative pair-ion plasmas. The dissipation in the system is taken into account by considering the effect of kinematic viscosity of both positive and negative ions in plasmas. The system of fluid equations for asymmetric pair-ion plasma is reduced to Korteweg-deVries-Burgers equation in the limit of small amplitude perturbation. It is observed that the system under consideration admits rarefactive shocks. Keeping in view the practical applications, the nonlinear propagation of both the exploding and imploding shocks is investigated and the differences are expounded in detail. The present study may have relevance in the study of the formation of electrostatic shocks in laser-induced implosion devices, star formation, supernovae explosion, etc.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Dynamics of laser-induced surface phase explosion in silicon

Time-resolved ultrasonic studies revealed a second, delayed ablative pressure pulse after the first primary plasma pressure pulse in a silicon wafer irradiated by a UV nanosecond laser. The intensity-dependent delay time for the second pulse indicates the existence of a corresponding intensity-dependent homogeneous vapor bubble nucleation time in the superheated molten silicon prior to its phase explosion and ablative removal, since the integral pressure correlates with the ablation rate. A transient hot ablative plasma with calculated peak temperature {approx}30-90 eV and pressure {approx}20-110 GPa is suggested to superheat the bulk silicon via short-wavelength recombination and Bremsstrahlung emission.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Energetic proton generation from intense Coulomb explosion of large-size ethane clusters

An experimental investigation is performed on the interaction of intense femtosecond laser pulses at the intensity of 6 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2} (55 fs, 160 mJ at 800 nm) with ethane cluster (C{sub 2}H{sub 6}){sub N} jets prepared under the backing pressure of 30 bars at room temperature (298 K). The experiment results indicate the generation of energetic protons, whose average and maximum kinetic energies are 12.2 and 138.1 keV, respectively, by Coulomb explosion of (C{sub 2}H{sub 6}){sub N} clusters. (C{sub 2}H{sub 6}){sub N} clusters of 5 nm in radius are generated in the experiment, which are 1.7 times larger than that of (CH{sub 4}){sub N} clusters prepared in the same conditions. Empirical estimation suggests that (C{sub 2}H{sub 6}){sub N} clusters with radius of about 9.6 nm can be prepared at 80-bars backing pressure at 308 K. While (C{sub 2}H{sub 6}){sub N} clusters of so large size are irradiated by sufficiently intense laser pulses, the average energy of protons will be increased up to 50 keV. It is inferred that such large-size deuterated ethane clusters (C{sub 2}D{sub 6}){sub N} will favor more efficient neutron generation due to the significant increase of the D-D nuclear reaction cross section in laser-driven cluster nuclear fusion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Ignition probability of polymer-bonded explosives accounting for multiple sources of material stochasticity

Accounting for the combined effect of multiple sources of stochasticity in material attributes, we develop an approach that computationally predicts the probability of ignition of polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) under impact loading. The probabilistic nature of the specific ignition processes is assumed to arise from two sources of stochasticity. The first source involves random variations in material microstructural morphology; the second source involves random fluctuations in grain-binder interfacial bonding strength. The effect of the first source of stochasticity is analyzed with multiple sets of statistically similar microstructures and constant interfacial bonding strength. Subsequently, each of the microstructures in the multiple sets is assigned multiple instantiations of randomly varying grain-binder interfacial strengths to analyze the effect of the second source of stochasticity. Critical hotspot size-temperature states reaching the threshold for ignition are calculated through finite element simulations that explicitly account for microstructure and bulk and interfacial dissipation to quantify the time to criticality (t{sub c}) of individual samples, allowing the probability distribution of the time to criticality that results from each source of stochastic variation for a material to be analyzed. Two probability superposition models are considered to combine the effects of the multiple sources of stochasticity. The first is a parallel and series combination model, and the second is a nested probability function model. Results show that the nested Weibull distribution provides an accurate description of the combined ignition probability. The approach developed here represents a general framework for analyzing the stochasticity in the material behavior that arises out of multiple types of uncertainty associated with the structure, design, synthesis and processing of materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Step density model of laser sustained ion channel and Coulomb explosion

An analytical model of laser sustained ion channel in plasma is developed, assuming electron density to be zero in the inner region and constant outside. The radius of the channel is such that the ponderomotive force on electrons at the channel boundary is balanced by the channel space charge force. The laser is TM eigen mode of the system with Bessel function profile in the interior and modified Bessel function outside. The channel radius increases with laser intensity and the ratio of laser frequency to plasma frequency. Ion Coulomb explosion of the channel, on longer time scale, produces ion energy distribution, an increasing function of energy with a sharp cutoff equal to electron ponderomotive energy at the channel boundary. At peak laser intensity ≈2×10{sup 19}W/cm{sup 2} at 1 μm wavelength and spot size of 8 μm, the cutoff ion energy in a plasma of density ∼10{sup 19}cm{sup −3} is ∼0.73 MeV.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗