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At least 1,027 records · Page 57

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NASA NTRS1986

Evaluating roughness models of radar backscatter

Three radar backscatter roughness models were assessed using soil moisture data collected by the Space Shuttle flight 41G SIR-B SAR in an intensively farmed area. The SIR-B data swath included a large number of bare, dry fields with a large variety of surface roughnesses. The small perturbation model gives the best results, particularly when fields with a definite periodic row structure were omitted. The standard deviation of surface heights appears to be a good measure of relative roughness conditions, but the correlation length is not a good descriptor of the surface, and does not seem to be related in any way to the measured backscatter.

Engmann, E. T.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Evaluating roughness models of radar backscatter

Engman, Edwin T.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Hardening in Au-Ag nanoboxes from stacking fault-dislocation interactions

Porous, nano-architected metals with dimensions down to ~10 nm are predicted to have extraordinarily high strength and stiffness per weight, but have been challenging to fabricate and test experimentally. Here, we use colloidal synthesis to make ~140 nm length and ~15 nm wall thickness hollow Au-Ag nanoboxes with smooth and rough surfaces. In situ scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope testing of the smooth and rough nanoboxes show them to yield at 130 ± 45 MPa and 96 ± 31 MPa respectively, with significant strain hardening. A higher strain hardening rate is seen in rough nanoboxes than smooth nanoboxes. Finite element modeling is used to show that the structure of the nanoboxes is not responsible for the hardening behavior suggesting that material mechanisms are the source of observed hardening. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that hardening is a result of interactions between dislocations and the associated increase in dislocation density.

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRS1956

Investigation of Heat Transfer From

The convective heat transfer from the surface of an ellipsoidal forebody of fineness ratio 3 and 20-inch maximum diameter was investigated in clear air for both stationary and rotating operation over a range of conditions including air speeds up to 240 knots, rotational speeds up to 1200 rpm, and angles of attack of 0 deg, 3 deg, and 6 deg. The results are presented in the form of heat-transfer coefficients and the correlation of Nusselt and Reynolds numbers. Both a uniform surface temperature and a uniform input heater density distribution were used. The experimental results agree well with theoretical predictions for uniform surface temperature distribution. Complete agreement was not obtained with uniform input heat density in the laminar-flow region because of conduction effects. No significant effects of rotation were obtained over the range of airstream and rotational speeds investigated. Operation at angle of attack had only minor effects on the local heat transfer. Transition from laminar to turbulent heat transfer occurred over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The location of transition depended primarily on surface roughness and pressure and temperature gradients. Limited transient heating data indicate that the variation of surface temperature with time followed closely an exponential relation.

Lewis, James P.↗

NASA NTRS1999

AFM Studies of Lunar Soils and Application to the Mars 2001 Mission

The upcoming Mars 01 mission will carry an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) as part of the Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment (MECA) instrument. By operating in a tapping mode, the AFM is capable of sub-nanometer resolution in three dimensions and can distinguish between substances of different compositions by employing phase contrast imaging. To prepare for the Mars 01 mission, we are testing the AFM on a lunar soil to determine its ability to define particle shapes and sizes and grain-surface textures. The test materials are from the Apollo 17 soil 79221, which is a mixture of agglutinates, impact and volcanic beads, and mare and highland rock and mineral fragments. The majority of the lunar soil particles are less than 100 microns in size, comparable to the sizes estimated for martian dust. We have used the AFM to examine several different soil particles at various resolutions. The instrument has demonstrated the ability to identify parallel ridges characteristic of twinning on a 150 micron plagioclase feldspar particle. Extremely small (10-100 nanometer) adhering particles are visible on the surface of the feldspar grain, and they appear elongate with smooth surfaces. Phase contrast imaging of the nanometer particles shows several compositions to be present. When the AFM was applied to a 100 micron glass spherule, it was possible to define an extremely smooth surface; this is in clear contrast to results from a basalt fragment which exhibited a rough surface texture. Also visible on the surface of the glass spherule were chains of 100 nanometer and smaller impact melt droplets. For the '01 Mars mission, the AFM is intended to define the size and shape distributions of soil particles, in combination with the NMCA optical microscope system and images from the Robot Arm Camera (RAC). These three data sets will provide a means of assessing potentially hazardous soil and dust properties. The study that we have conducted on the lunar soils now suggests that the NMCA experiment will be able to define grain transport and weathering processes. For example, it should be possible to determine if Martian grains have been subjected to aeolian or water transport, volcanic activity, impact melting processes, in-situ weathering, and a host of other processes. Additionally, textural maturity could be assessed (via freshness and form of fracture patterns and grain shapes). Thus, the AFM has the potential to shed new light on Martian surface processes by adding the submicroscopic dimension to planetary investigations.

Weitz, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS2013

Spectrally Consistent Scattering, Absorption, and Polarization Properties of Atmospheric Ice Crystals at Wavelengths from 0.2 to 100 um

A data library is developed containing the scattering, absorption, and polarization properties of ice particles in the spectral range from 0.2 to 100 microns. The properties are computed based on a combination of the Amsterdam discrete dipole approximation (ADDA), the T-matrix method, and the improved geometric optics method (IGOM). The electromagnetic edge effect is incorporated into the extinction and absorption efficiencies computed from the IGOM. A full set of single-scattering properties is provided by considering three-dimensional random orientations for 11 ice crystal habits: droxtals, prolate spheroids, oblate spheroids, solid and hollow columns, compact aggregates composed of eight solid columns, hexagonal plates, small spatial aggregates composed of 5 plates, large spatial aggregates composed of 10 plates, and solid and hollow bullet rosettes. The maximum dimension of each habit ranges from 2 to 10,000 microns in 189 discrete sizes. For each ice crystal habit, three surface roughness conditions (i.e., smooth, moderately roughened, and severely roughened) are considered to account for the surface texture of large particles in the IGOM applicable domain. The data library contains the extinction efficiency, single-scattering albedo, asymmetry parameter, six independent nonzero elements of the phase matrix (P11, P12, P22, P33, P43, and P44), particle projected area, and particle volume to provide the basic single-scattering properties for remote sensing applications and radiative transfer simulations involving ice clouds. Furthermore, a comparison of satellite observations and theoretical simulations for the polarization characteristics of ice clouds demonstrates that ice cloud optical models assuming severely roughened ice crystals significantly outperform their counterparts assuming smooth ice crystals.

Optical properties↗

NASA NTRS2000

Surface Fatigue Lives of Case-Carburized Gears With an Improved Surface Finish

Previous research provides qualitative evidence that an improved surface finish can increase the surface fatigue lives of gears. To quantify the influence of surface roughness on life, a set of AISI 93 10 steel gears was provided with a nearmirror finish by superfinishing. The effects of the superfinishing on the quality of the gear tooth surfaces were determined using data from metrology, profilometry, and interferometric microscope inspections. The superfinishing reduced the roughness average by about a factor of 5. The superfinished gears were subjected to surface fatigue testing at 1.71 -GPa (248-ksi) Hertz contact stress, and the data were compared with the NASA Glenn gear fatigue data base. The lives of gears with superfinished teeth were about four times greater compared with the lives of gears with ground teeth but with otherwise similar quality.

Krantz, T. L.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Machine learning assisted prediction of tungsten heavy alloy plasma facing component performance for fusion energy applications

Tungsten and tungsten heavy alloys (WHAs), known for their remarkably high hardness, durability, and corrosion resistance, play a critical role in the thriving development of nuclear fusion reactors in recent years. However, the exploration in tungsten alloys for the nuclear-related applications has been limited by the difficulty of manufacturing and the complexity of experiments to reproduce the environment of nuclear reaction. Therefore, this project aims to utilize nanoscale simulation methods such as density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) with the help of machine learning techniques to not only understand the mechanisms of tungsten alloys but also allow us to computationally predict their mechanical behaviors under extreme environments. One critical problem of the application of WHAs in nuclear reactors is the surface melting. In the current design of the SPARC reactor, the WHA, W97Ni2.1Fe0.9 or W97NiFe, is chosen to be the first wall components to confine the plasma where the particles are fiercely moving and colliding into each other to create nuclear fusion reaction. This process will generate extremely high heat flux onto these WHA tiles, leaving high surface temperature that could possibly melt the surface of the WHA tiles, As illustrated in Fig. 1(a). a laser experiment previously done illustrates that a rough surface damage would be made after the surface melting where the matrix area mainly composed of nickel and iron as shown in Fig. 1(b), will first melt and then leave vacancies between these tungsten grains. Unfortunately, these kinds of roughness on the first-wall components could be deadly to the plasma inside a Tokmak reactor because the heat that is supposed to dissipate at a designed ratio through the tiles may in turn be excessively absorbed and accumulated on any uneven area of the surface, which will eventually make the whole nuclear reaction fail. In this project, we will introduce a machine learning potential, Allegro, based on DFT calculation and then build a MD model for W-Ni-Fe alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS2006

Aeolian Sediment Transport through Large Patches of Roughness in the Atmospheric Inertial Sublayer

Roughness influences the flux of wind driven sand transport. In this paper, we report on sediment transport measurements for four different surface roughness configurations composed of the same size (solid) roughness elements in the atmospheric inertial sublayer (ISL). Results of these tests indicate that sediment transport rates through patches of roughness in the atmospheric inertial sublayer are to a large extent controlled and scale proportionally with the roughness density (lambda = n b h/S, where n is number of elements of breadth b and height h in area S) of the surface. However, element size apparently increases the magnitude of the reduction beyond that attributable to lambda. A sediment transport model that incorporates the effect of shear stress partitioning appears to predict reasonably well the effect of roughness on sand transport in the cases where the roughness elements are less than or equal to 0.10 m in height. However, when the dimensions of the roughness itself are equivalent to or are greater than the range of saltation lengths (vertical and horizontal), additional interactions of the elements with the saltation cloud appear to reduce the transport efficiency.

Gillies, John A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Microwave bistatic reflectivity dependence on the moisture content and matric potential of bare soil

Results are presented of an experimental program to determine the functional dependence of the microwave reflectivity of nonvegetated soil surfaces upon volumetric soil moisture and matric potential. A combination evaporation-drainage field experiment was conducted on a bare Captina slit loam with reflectivity, soil moisture content, and matric potential monitored for extended time periods. Results show that for a restricted pressure range (approximately -0.05 to -0.75 bar) there is excellent linear correlation between the log of bistatic reflectivity and both volumetric moisture content and matric potential. Layering effects due to steep moisture content (and matric potential) gradients in the profile are demonstrated to have two distinct and significant effects on the reflectivity response. At near saturation of rough surfaces a very thin dry surface layer appears to modify the effective roughness. This leads to a saturation of reflectivity at high moisture contents. As the surface proceeds to dry further, deeper layers produce coherent interference patterns in the reflectivity response, particularly at the higher frequencies.

Waite, W. P.↗

DOE OSTI2020

How a raindrop gets shattered on biological surfaces

Many biological surfaces of animals and plants (e.g., bird feathers, insect wings, plant leaves, etc.) are superhydrophobic with rough surfaces at different length scales. Previous studies have focused on a simple drop-bouncing behavior on biological surfaces with low-speed impacts. However, we observed that an impacting drop at high speeds exhibits more complicated dynamics with unexpected shock-like patterns: Hundreds of shock-like waves are formed on the spreading drop, and the drop is then abruptly fragmented along with multiple nucleating holes. Such drop dynamics result in the rapid retraction of the spreading drop and thereby a more than twofold decrease in contact time. Our results may shed light on potential biological advantages of hypothermia risk reduction for endothermic animals and spore spreading enhancement for fungi via wave-induced drop fragmentation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

Preparation and Characterization Methods of Thin Layer Samples for Standoff Detection

Detection of analytes deposited on surfaces is crucial for many applications: Development of methods to prepare thin layers (e.g. ~5 to 100 µm) is important for both system design and field studies. In this work, solid and liquid analytes were deposited on painted and bare substrates including aluminum, glass, plastic, and concrete using an ExactaCoat ultrasonic spray coater. Laboratory hemispherical reflectance (HRF) spectra were collected for samples with different layer thicknesses so as to characterize both the composition and layer thickness. Preliminary results demonstrate that to prepare homogenous layers on surfaces, parameters such as substrate type, analyte solubility, vapor pressure, paint color, surface porosity, and surface roughness are all important. Liquid chemicals posed several issues during deposition: Diisopropyl methyl phosphonate evaporated from surfaces more quickly than the other chemicals and was thus not detected in the HRF experiments. Less volatile liquids, such as tributylphosphate, remained on the surface for the duration of the test, but a uniform layer thickness could not be obtained as the liquid pooled to one side when mounted at an angle. The deposition of solids (e.g., acetaminophen, caffeine and methylphosphonic acid) from volatile solvents such as chloroform also proved problematic due to streaking caused by rapid solvent evaporation. Solids deposited from ethanol, however, worked well on bare substrates. For most samples plotting the integrated infrared band strength vs. surface thicknesses showed a linear relationship, confirming that the surface loading can be controlled by programming the concentration and the number of passes on the ultrasonic sprayer.

Thin layer, deposition, infrared standoff, Hemisph↗

NASA NTRS1974

Two-dimensional Gaussian processes applied to the determination of contact between lubricated rolling surfaces

The effectiveness of a lubricant film preventing metallic contact between two rolling surfaces (such as in ball bearings) as a function of surface roughness parameters was investigated. The parameters considered are the spectral moments of the two-dimensional surface obtained by superposition of the two rolling surfaces. The peak height distribution, estimation of one-dimensional profile spectral moments, and the estimation of two-dimensional surface moments from several profile measurements were considered. Also given is an asymptotic relation between the mean film thickness and contact occurrences.

Sidik, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Fracture surface analysis in composite and titanium bonding

To understand the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composite materials, it is necessary to understand the mechanical properties of the matrix materials and of the reinforcing fibers. Another factor that can affect the mechanical properties of a composite material is the interaction between the fiber and the matrix. In general, composites with strong fiber matrix bonding will give higher modulus, lower toughness composites. Composites with weak bonding will have a lower modulus and more ductility. The situation becomes a bit more complex when all possibilities are examined. To be considered are the following: the properties of the surface layer on the fiber, the interactive forces between polymer and matrix, the surface roughness and porosity of the fiber, and the morphology of the matrix polymer at the fiber surface. In practice, the surface of the fibers is treated to enhance the mechanical properties of a composite. These treatments include anodization, acid etching, high temperature oxidation, and plasma oxidation, to name a few. The goal is to be able to predict the surface properties of carbon fibers treated in various ways, and then to relate surface properties to fiber matrix bonding.

Devilbiss, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Observation of radiative surface plasmons in metal-oxide-metal tunnel junctions

A peak in the UV region of the spectrum of light emitted from metal-oxide-metal (MOM) tunnel junctions has been observed at room temperature. Both the amplitude and wavelength of the peak are sensitive to applied junction bias. The UV peak corresponds to the normal or radiative surface plasmon mode while a visible peak, also present in the present spectra and reported in past MOM literature, is due to the tangential or nonradiative mode. The radiative mode requires no surface roughness or gratings for photon coupling. The results show that it is possible to obtain radiative surface plasmon production followed by a direct decay into photons with MOM tunnel diodes. A MOM diode with a double anode structure is found to emit light associated only with the nonradiative mode. The thickness dependence of the UV peak, along with the experimental results of the double anode MOM diode and the ratio of the UV peak to visible peak, support the contention that the UV light emission is indeed due to the radiative surface plasmon.

Donohue, J. F.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Modifications to the three-component classification algorithm for SAR data

Previously, a scattering model was used to classify SAR data as due to three mechanisms: surface or odd-bounce scattering; double-bounce scattering; and volume scattering. A Bragg rough-surface model was used for odd-bounce scattering, and two reflecting surfaces, as in a dihedral corner reflector, represented the double-bounce scattering mechanism. A random collection of infinitely thin cylinders was used to model the volume scattering contribution. It was assumed that the cylinders are uniformly oriented in all directions. In this work, modifications are made to the above model, which include specifying a preferred orientation for the cylinders representing branches and using thin cylinders of finite thickness as opposed to infinitely thin ones. In the first case, the preferred orientation is represented by a probability density function in the form of a dirac delta function. For the second case, small argument asymptotic expansions of Bessel functions are used to express the volume scattering contributions in terms of quantities containing the average radius of the cylinders. Since in each case the number of unknowns exceeds that of equations, simplifying assumptions are made. The solutions are applied to multifrequency polarimetric SAR data to obtain the new unknowns in addition to the relative contributions of each scattering mechanism. Several results are presented. It is found that the calculated percentage of each mechanism does not change significantly compared to the original model; however, additional information is gained about the scatterers.

Moghaddam, M.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Topography of the Moon from the Clementine Lidar

Range measurements from the lidar instrument carried aboard the Clementine spacecraft have been used to produce an accurate global topographic model of the Moon. This paper discusses the function of the lidar; the acquisition, processing, and filtering of observations to produce a global topographic model; and the determination of parameters that define the fundamental shape of the Moon. Our topographic model: a 72nd degree and order spherical harmonic expansion of lunar radii, is designated Goddard Lunar Topography Model 2 (GLTM 2). This topographic field has an absolute vertical accuracy of approximately 100 m and a spatial resolution of 2.5 deg. The field shows that the Moon can be described as a sphere with maximum positive and negative deviations of approx. 8 km, both occurring on the farside, in the areas of the Korolev and South Pole-Aitken (S.P.-Aitken) basins. The amplitude spectrum of the topography shows more power at longer wavelengths as compared to previous models, owing to more complete sampling of the surface, particularly the farside. A comparison of elevations derived from the Clementine lidar to control point elevations from the Apollo laser altimeters indicates that measured relative topographic heights generally agree to within approx. 200 in over the maria. While the major axis of the lunar gravity field is aligned in the Earth-Moon direction, the major axis of topography is displaced from this line by approximately 10 deg to the cast and intersects the farside 24 deg north of the equator. The magnitude of impact basin topography is greater than the lunar flattening (approx. 2 km) and equatorial ellipticity (approx. 800 m), which imposes a significant challenge to interpreting the lunar figure. The floors of mare basins are shown to lie close to an equipotential surface, while the floors of unflooded large basins, except for S.P.-Aitken, lie above this equipotential. The radii of basin floors are thus consistent with a hydrostatic mechanism for the absence of significant farside maria except for S.P.-Aitken, whose depth and lack of mare require significant internal compositional and/or thermal heterogeneity. A macroscale surface roughness map shows that roughness at length scales of 10(exp 1) - 10(exp 2) km correlates with elevation and surface age.

Smith, David E.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Depolarization of light back scattered from rough dielectrics

The depolarization of laser light backscattered from inhomogeneous dielectrics was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. A theoretical model that includes backscattering from both the surface and subsurface was developed by use of the Kirchhoff approach. The subsurface polarized and depolarized backscattered components are independent of surface roughness. The model predicts results in agreement with experimental measurements performed with a dual-polarized laser backscattering system. The measurements indicate that a significant contribution to the total backscattered power results from subsurface contributions; in some cases, this contribution completely masks the effects due to the surface.

Wilhelmi, G. J.↗