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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 1,045 records · Page 58
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Distributed Acoustic Sensing for Whale Vocalization Monitoring: A Vertical Deployment Field Test

Abstract There is growing interest in floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) technology, where turbines are installed on floating structures anchored to the seabed, allowing wind energy development in areas unsuitable for traditional fixed-platform turbines. Responsible development requires monitoring the impact of FOWTs on marine wildlife, such as whales, throughout the operational lifecycle of the turbines. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS)—a technology that transforms fiber-optic cables into vibration sensor arrays—has been demonstrated for acoustic monitoring of whales using seafloor telecommunications cables. However, no studies have yet evaluated DAS performance in dynamic, engineered environments, such as floating platforms or moving vessels with complex, dynamic strain loads, despite their relevance to FOWT settings. This study addresses that gap by deploying DAS aboard a boat in Monterey Bay, California, where a fiber-optic cable was lowered using a weighted and suspended mooring line, enabling vertical deployment. Humpback whale vocalizations were captured and identified in the DAS data, noise sources were identified, and DAS data were compared to audio captured by a standalone hydrophone attached to the mooring line and a nearby hydrophone on a cabled observatory. This study is unique in: (1) deploying DAS in a vertical deployment mode, where noise from turbulence, cable vibrations, and other sources posed additional challenges compared to seafloor DAS applications; (2) demonstrating DAS in a dynamic, nonstationary setup, which is uncommon for DAS interrogators typically used in more stable environments; and (3) leveraging looped sections of the cable to reduce the noise floor and mitigate the effects of excessive cable vibrations and strain. This research demonstrates DAS’s ability to capture whale vocalizations in challenging environments, highlighting its potential to enhance underwater acoustic monitoring, particularly in the context of renewable energy development in offshore environments.

Saw, Jaewon↗
NASA NTRS2003

Investigation of Structural Dynamics in a 2-Meter Square Solar Sail Model Including Axial Load Effects

This paper presents a parameter study of the effect of boom axial loading on the global dynamics of a 2-meter solar sail scale model. The experimental model used is meant for building expertise in finite element analysis and experimental execution, not as a predecessor to any planned flight mission or particular design concept. The results here are to demonstrate the ability to predict and measure structural dynamics and mode shapes in the presence of axial loading.

Holland, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Structural optimization with constraints from dynamics in Lagrange

Structural optimization problems are mostly solved under constraints from statics, such as stresses, strains, or displacements under static loads. But in the design process, dynamic quantities like eigenfrequencies or accelerations under dynamic loads become more and more important. Therefore, it is obvious that constraints from dynamics must be considered in structural optimization packages. This paper addresses the dynamics branch in MBB-LAGRANGE. It will concentrate on two topics, namely on the different formulations for eigenfrequency constraints and on frequency response constraints. For the latter the necessity of a system reduction is emphasized. The methods implemented in LAGRANGE are presented and examples are given.

Pfeiffer, F.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Structural Dynamic Behavior of Wind Turbines

The structural dynamicist s areas of responsibility require interaction with most other members of the wind turbine project team. These responsibilities are to predict structural loads and deflections that will occur over the lifetime of the machine, ensure favorable dynamic responses through appropriate design and operational procedures, evaluate potential design improvements for their impact on dynamic loads and stability, and correlate load and control test data with design predictions. Load prediction has been a major concern in wind turbine designs to date, and it is perhaps the single most important task faced by the structural dynamics engineer. However, even if we were able to predict all loads perfectly, this in itself would not lead to an economic system. Reduction of dynamic loads, not merely a "design to loads" policy, is required to achieve a cost-effective design. The two processes of load prediction and structural design are highly interactive: loads and deflections must be known before designers and stress analysts can perform structural sizing, which in turn influences the loads through changes in stiffness and mass. Structural design identifies "hot spots" (local areas of high stress) that would benefit most from dynamic load alleviation. Convergence of this cycle leads to a turbine structure that is neither under-designed (which may result in structural failure), nor over-designed (which will lead to excessive weight and cost).

Thresher, Robert W.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Constraining the Venus Interior Structure With Future VERITAS Measurements of the Gravitational Atmospheric Loading

The complex dynamics of the Venus atmosphere produces a periodic mass redistribution pattern that creates a time-variable modulation of the gravity field of Venus. This gravity signal depends on the net transport of mass across the globe and on the response of the solid body to the normal loading of its crust imparted by the atmosphere. In this work, we explore the possibility of measuring this phenomenon with VERITAS, a NASA Discovery-class mission. By simulating the gravity science experiment, we explore the possibility of measuring the response of Venus to the atmospheric loading, parametrized by the loading Love numbers ( 𝑘 𝑙 ' ), and assess the dependence of these parameters on fundamental interior structure properties. Using the most recent models of Venus' interior, we compute the Venus Love numbers in a compressible viscoelastic setting and compare them with the predicted uncertainty of the VERITAS measurements. We show that VERITAS will measure 𝑘 2 ' at the 4% level and that this measurement could possibly help to distinguish between different equally plausible interior structure models, especially allowing us to distinguish different rheological laws. We also show that a measurement campaign such as the VERITAS gravity science investigation has the potential of measuring 𝑘 2 ' not only at the loading forcing frequency, but also at the tidal frequency, ultimately providing a way to probe the response of the planet at different forcing periods.

Atmospheric tides↗
DOE OSTI2023

Flow Strength Measurements of Wrought and AM SS304L via Pressure Shear Plate Impact Experiments

Pressure-shear plate impact experiments were performed to quantify flow strength of wrought, as-built additively manufactured (AM), and heat-treated and recrystallized AM 304 L stainless steel (SS304L) under combined loading. Impact velocities spanned between 0.03 and 0.24 mm/μs, resulting in corresponding pressures of 0.62–5.93 GPa. Flow strength measurements are comparable for the sample variants across the studied loading conditions; however, shear wave structures significantly differ between sample type. Microstructurally aware simulations indicate local strain differences attributed to anisotropic elastic constants of large grains (~1 mm) in the as-built and heat-treated AM may impede the ability to uniformly transmit a shear wave.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

An adaptive scalable fully implicit algorithm based on stabilized finite element for reduced visco-resistive MHD

The magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations are continuum models used in the study of a wide range of plasma physics systems, including the evolution of complex plasma dynamics in tokamak disruptions. However, efficient numerical solution methods for MHD are extremely challenging due to disparate time and length scales, strong hyperbolic phenomena, and nonlinearity. Additionally, therefore the development of scalable, implicit MHD algorithms and high-resolution adaptive mesh refinement strategies is of considerable importance. In this work, we develop a high-order stabilized finite-element algorithm for the reduced visco-resistive MHD equations based on the MFEM finite element library (mfem.org). The scheme is fully implicit, solved with the Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov (JFNK) method with a physics-based preconditioning strategy. Our preconditioning strategy is a generalization of the physics-based preconditioning methods in Chacón et al. (2002) to adaptive, stabilized finite elements. Algebraic multigrid methods are used to invert sub-block operators to achieve scalability. A parallel adaptive mesh refinement scheme with dynamic load-balancing is implemented to efficiently resolve the multi-scale spatial features of the system. Our implementation uses the MFEM framework, which provides arbitrary-order polynomials and flexible adaptive conforming and non-conforming meshes capabilities. Results demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of the implicit scheme in the presence of large scale disparity. The potential of the AMR approach is demonstrated on an island coalescence problem in the high Lundquist-number regime (≥ 10 7 ) with the successful resolution of plasmoid instabilities and thin current sheets.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Voltage cycling as a dynamic operation mode for high temperature electrolysis solid oxide cells

Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs) have emerged as a promising technology for the efficient production of H2 via high-temperature electrolysis. However, power input from dynamic energy sources remains a significant challenge for their long-term stability. It is important to analyze the tolerance of cells under dynamic operation conditions. This study focuses on evaluating the impact of voltage cycling on the performance and durability of electrode-supported SOECs. We explore the operational limits and degradation mechanisms of SOECs subjected to various voltage conditions and find that the cells have high tolerance for dynamic voltage. Voltage cycling between 1.3 V and 1.5 V for 9000 cycles does not damage the cell. Conversely, cycling to higher voltages (≥1.7 V) results in accelerated degradation. Advanced characterization is used to screen for various degradation modes post operation. Within the oxygen electrode, XRD and STEM EDS find compositional and phase evolution in all voltage cycled samples including increased decomposition of the air electrode resulting in cation migration. Microstructural analysis of the fuel electrode from nano-CT data shows minimal change throughout the sample set and no evidence of Ni migration, indicating the fuel electrode is stable and not impacted by cycling to higher voltages within the timeframe studied.

Zhu, Zhikuan↗
DOE OSTI2022

Impact of power flow on Z-pinch loads

Magnetically insulated transmission lines (MITLs) are used to deliver tens of MA to a Z-pinch load. The MITLs suffer current losses due to contaminant plasma located in the anode–cathode gap which is swept toward the load along the power flow. The swept up contaminant plasma can deposit mass and energy onto the load resulting in deformations or the seeding of macroscopic instabilities. This paper discusses 2D fully kinetic simulations of the contaminant plasma evolution which predict the current losses and the flux of mass and energy onto the load. Furthermore, the effects of a dynamic, i.e., imploding, load are shown to increase both the current loss and the mass and energy flux. The MITL used is a conical, radially converging design which is a feature common to MA-scale Z-pinch accelerators.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Tailoring additive manufacturing to optimize dynamic properties in 316L stainless steel

With the advent of additive manufacturing, manipulation of typical microstructural elements such as grain size, texture, and defect densities is now possible at a faster time scale. While the processing–structure–property relationship in additive manufactured metals has been well studied over the past decade, little work has been done in understanding how this process affects the dynamic behavior of materials. We postulate that additive manufacturing can be used to alter the material microstructure and used to enhance its dynamic strength. In this work, 316L stainless steel (SS) was manufactured via selected laser melting and its microstructure was altered through changing build parameters like laser power, speed, and hatch spacing systematically. These samples were then subjected to spall recovery experiments to measure the spall strength and quantify the amount of damage as a function of build parameters. By mapping the spall strength as a function of build parameters, this work demonstrated that indeed additive manufacturing can be used to tailor the spall strength of 316L SS. This work also determined the optimum build parameters (laser power=195W; scanning speed=1083mm/s; hatch spacing=0.09mm; layer thickness=0.02mm) to obtain the highest spall strength and the least amount of total damage in 316L SS. Microstructural characterization of the pre- and post-mortem samples revealed that increased grain average misorientation and textural index were the main driving force behind this higher spall strength. This work aims to enhance microstructural engineering techniques to design materials with greater resistance to dynamic shock loading.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Tradeoffs in single stage drift step recovery diode generator design

A high-voltage generator of nanosecond pulses utilizing a drift step recovery diode (DSRD) as an opening switch in the compression section is designed to operate at peak voltages of 4 kV and repetition rates of 2 MHz in burst mode at reduced voltages. The generator is used to perform empirical studies on the output metrics of a DSRD generator with a focus on matching the circuit of the reverse current loop parameters and DSRD to the load. The dynamic impedance introduced by nonlinear elements in the DSRD was investigated with respect to the driving circuit by varying the number of DSRDs connected in series. Experimental results indicate that optimization of the driving circuit for the DSRD is key to minimizing losses and achieving optimal pulse compression. Furthermore, the results also indicate trends in DSRD performance as larger storage inductances and longer pumping times are used, limiting the pulse compression capabilities of a single stage DSRD generator.

Electrical properties and parameters↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sample glue layer investigation and mitigation for laser induced prompt impulse experiments

Understanding longer timescale material reactions under dynamic stress loading is critical for applications in materials engineering, shock physics, and planetary science. Prompt impulse experiments generate lower pressures since the ablator—the material first removed by the laser—is thicker and farther from the diagnostic plane, capturing aggregate material responses from the initial shock wave, rarefaction waves, and later time effects. This complexity demands thorough material characterization and simulation support. Since traditional sample construction is specific to supported shock experiments, designing prompt impulse experiments requires reconsideration around target design and sample engineering. Here, we present sample preparation techniques, experimental investigations, and theoretical simulations to investigate glue layer impacts, aiming to standardize samples for consistent data at lower laser fluences. We find that glue layers <30 μm have a minimal impact on peak velocity and pulse shape. The peak velocity scales linearly with glue layer thickness until a glue layer of 75 μm. For glue layers >75 μm, the peak velocity no longer scales with thickness; however, the pulse shape continues to degrade as described by simulations.

Lasers↗
DOE OSTI2023

Hydropower representation in water and energy system models: a review of divergences and call for reconciliation

Abstract Reservoir-based hydropower systems represent key interactions between water and energy systems and are being transformed under policy initiatives driven by increasing water and energy demand, the desire to reduce environmental impacts, and interacting effects of climate change. Such policies are often guided by complex system models, whereby divergence in system representations can potentially translate to incompatible planning outcomes, thereby undermining any planning that may rely on them. We review different approaches and assumptions in hydropower representation in water and energy systems. While the models and issues are relevant globally, the review focuses on applications in California given its extensive development of energy and water models for policy planning, but discusses the extent to which these observations apply to other regions. Structurally, both water-driven and energy-driven management models are similar. However, in energy models, hydropower is often represented as a single-priority output. Water management models typically allocate water for competing priorities, which are generally uninformed by dynamic electricity load demand, and often result in a lower priority for hydropower. In water models, constraints are increasingly resolved for non-energy components (e.g. inflow hydrology and non-energy water demand); few analogues exist for energy models. These limitations may result in inadequate representations of each respective sector, and vastly different planning outcomes for the same facilities between the two different sectors. These divergent modeling approaches manifest themselves in California where poorly reconciled outcomes may affect decisions in hydropower licensing, electricity grid flexibility and decarbonization, and planning for environmental water. Fully integrated water-energy models are computationally intensive and specific to certain regions, but better representation of each domain in respective efforts would help reconcile divergences in planning and management efforts related to hydropower across energy and water systems.

Rheinheimer, David E. (ORCID:0000000315259069)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Millions of Small Pressure Cycles Drive Damage in Cracked Solar Cells

Here, we applied time-varying air pressure to a PV module containing newly cracked cells. The test used a new dynamic mechanical acceleration (DMX) apparatus. We applied pressure cycles similar to natural, wind-driven cycles. Compared to standard dynamic mechanical load (DML) tests, we applied much lower pressure (10 Pa to 300 Pa RMS) and many more cycles (one million at each of four pressure levels). We present a case study on a single cell in a commercial module. We monitored electrical continuity loss across cracks using electroluminescence (EL) imaging. 10 Pa pressure cycles caused negligible change. 30 Pa pressure cycles caused permanent damage that continued worsening even after tens of thousands of cycles. After one million 30 Pa cycles, a series of 100 Pa cycles still caused new, permanent damage to existing cracks. 300 Pa cycles caused further worsening and introduced new cracks.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

pnnl/LL-risk-assessment (33525-E)

A suite of scripts that helps evaluate and visualize the grid reliability risk due to events introduced by large dynamic digital loads (LDDLs) at the planning stage.

Biswas, Shuchismita [Pacific Northwest National La↗
DOE OSTI2020

Evaluation of Steam Cycle Upgrades to Improve the Competitiveness of U.S. Coal Power Plants (Final Scientific / Technical Report)

Increasing the competitiveness of the existing pulverized-coal utility fleet in the United States may be achieved by decreasing heat rate, via increases in steam cycle efficiency through upgraded steam temperatures and use of latest technology available in steam turbine and blading design. The average net plant efficiency of the US coal-fired fleet is approximately 33% (HHV). Plant efficiency increases to approximately 41.4% (HHV) at 1,350°F (732°C) steam temperature. However, achieving these Advanced Ultra-Super Critical (AUSC) steam conditions requires the use of advanced high-temperature materials. While there has been a significant amount of DOE-funded materials R&D, most of the related design work has focused on new (greenfield) units, rather than on opportunities to retrofit this advanced technology to the existing utility fleet. If technology, based upon the advanced materials required for AUSC steam conditions, may be applied to the existing fleet, using an economically viable retrofit, a higher capacity factor can be expected as a result of the increased plant competitiveness. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) was awarded a project by the US Department of Energy to examine the technical and economic feasibility of a series of steam cycle upgrades to the two most prevalent types of U.S. coal power plants: 2,400 psig (16.6 MPa) subcritical and 3,500 psig (24.1 MPa) supercritical pulverized coal units. The nine upgrade options that were originally being considered included increasing the main and reheat steam temperatures from 1,000°F (538°C) to 1,100°, 1,200°, and 1,350°F (593°C, 649°C, and 732°C) while holding the steam pressures constant at their original design values, and cases where just the main steam or reheat steam temperatures were increased. The objective was to minimize the modifications required to the existing power plant while still providing a significant improvement in heat rate. The upgrade options assumed that the boiler enclosure envelope remained unchanged from each base case, and that all applicable OEM design guidelines for normal commercial units were imposed. For the highest temperature supercritical case, an option of using a low-pressure molten salt loop to transfer heat from the furnace to the steam was examined. The first major task of the work scope was designed to examine the technical feasibility of various upgrade options, while the subsequent work determined economic viability of the technically feasible upgrade options. Prior to evaluating the effect of these increased temperatures, a “base case” model of a subcritical and supercritical PC boiler was created, which was used for comparative purposes. Upgrade options were evaluated at full-load, part-load and dynamic transient conditions. Once the technical feasibility of each upgrade option was evaluated, the economic value of the heat rate improvement of each feasible option was determined by detailed modeling of unit dispatch in several regional power markets. The dispatch model was used to estimate the amount of revenue from power sales the upgraded unit would receive in comparison to a non-upgraded version of the same power plant. As a parallel task to the dispatch analysis, the capital cost of implementing the upgrades was estimated. The capital cost estimates were then compared to the increased revenue estimated by the dispatch modeling to determine the economic attractiveness of each upgrade option. Several upgrade options were determined to be technically feasible. The net present value (NPV) of the costs for steam cycle upgrades considered in this study ranged from approximately $\$$111 to $\$$130 million. The economic modeling results show that the unit dispatch changes resulting from steam cycle upgrades are relatively small, due largely to heat rate (and operating cost) changes being relatively small. Additionally, the cost of each upgrade exceeds the net revenue increases associated with the upgrade case. Note that the breakeven values are higher for subcritical retrofits, but the capital costs for the subcritical upgrades are also slightly higher. In typical new pulverized coal plants, fuel accounts for approximately 25% of the cost of electricity (COE), while capital costs represent around 50% of the COE. Therefore, in order to improve the heat rate by 4% one can only afford to increase the capital cost by 2%, at the same cost of electricity. The conclusion of this study is that without a cost for emitting CO 2 , it will be difficult to pay for significant efficiency improvements on plants firing low cost coals.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2020

(U) PRAD0697 & PRAD0698: Complex Loading of CeO₂ Powder

Cerium(IV) oxide (CeO₂) powder is shock compressed using the Precision High Energy-density Liner Implosion eXperiment (PHELIX) platform. Experimental results are compared against several modeling approaches. Compaction behavior is best captured with a P-∝ model, which calculates CeO₂ powder bulk densities within 80-99% of experimental values but overpredicts densi cation at the cylindrical target's outer radius and center by up to 20%. Preliminary calculations suggest that accuracy could be increased with the inclusion of a coupled strength model. Several common computational modeling approaches for the shock compression response of granular materials and the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) force upon the impactor/liner in pulsed power compression experiments are investigated and analyzed for their validity. The Bi-linear Ramp, P-∝ PACXP, and P-∝ Menikoff-Kober continuum compaction models are calibrated to planar impact Hugoniot data for CeO₂ powder and used to predict the powder's shock compaction response under non-planar shock wave compression. MHD calculations of the PHELIX pulsed power driver are performed using an idealized resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit calibrated to previous experiments. All simulations are performed using the LANL code FLAG. Two validation experiments are computationally designed using the calibrated compaction and circuit models, executed using the PHELIX platform on CeO₂ targets with initial porous densities of 3.95 and 4.03 g/cm³, measured with proton radiography, and analyzed against the model predictions. The two P-∝ models more accurately describe CeO₂ powder densi cation than the Bi-linear Ramp model. However, the two P-∝ models overpredict bulk density of the shock compressed CeO₂ powder by up to 20% when the appropriate impact velocities are applied. MHD calculations for both validation experiments underpredict liner impact velocities by 4-11% when using the idealized RLC circuit model calibrated to previous experiments. Compensating underpredictions of impact velocity and overpredictions of powder densication lead to a false accuracy in pre-shot calculations compared to experimental data. To improve correlation between simulations and experiments, the following improvements are suggested: 1. A coupled strength model for CeO₂ powder that updates strength as a function of porosity and applied stress. 2. An improved MHD circuit model that more accurately captures the PHELIX machine.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗