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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Delivering New Ultrasound System to International Space Station

Ultrasound has been used for medical purposes and experiments. The previous ultrasound, HDI 5000, was delivered to the ISS in 2001 and had expected its service life in February, 2012. Due to on-orbit ultrasound failure in February 2011, the delivery date of new ultrasound was moved to July 8, 2011, which is 7 months earlier than original delivery date. This report shows how the Ultrasound 2 team including myself worked to make new delivery date. Four-step approach, (1) understanding the project (literature search), (2) learning different documents, (3) performing certification tests and (4) participating crew trainings, were used to succeed my internship at NASA JSC. In addition, the participation in Summer Institution and other contributions are explained. i

Sugita, Yoshino↗
NASA NTRS2016

Exploration Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Levels and Ultrasound Measures of the Eye During ISS Missions

Enhanced screening for the Visual Impairment/Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) Syndrome, including in-flight ultrasound, was implemented in 2010 to better characterize the changes in vision observed in some long-duration crewmembers. Suggested possible risk factors for VIIP include cardiovascular changes, diet, anatomical and genetic factors, and environmental conditions. As a potent vasodilator, carbon dioxide (CO (sub 2)), which is chronically elevated on the International Space Station (ISS) relative to typical indoor and outdoor ambient levels on Earth, seems a plausible contributor to VIIP. In an effort to understand the possible associations between CO (sub 2) and VIIP, this study analyzes the relationship between ambient CO (sub 2) levels on ISS and ultrasound measures of the eye obtained from ISS fliers. CO (sub 2) measurements will be pulled directly from Operational Data Reduction Complex for the Lab and Node 3 major constituent analyzers (MCAs) on ISS or from sensors located in the European Columbus module, as available. CO (sub 2) measures between ultrasound sessions will be summarized using standard time series class metrics in MATLAB including time-weighted means and variances. Cumulative CO (sub 2) exposure metrics will also be developed. Regression analyses will be used to quantify the relationships between the CO (sub 2) metrics and specific ultrasound measures. Generalized estimating equations will adjust for the repeated measures within individuals. Multiple imputation techniques will be used to adjust for any possible biases in missing data for either CO (sub 2) or ultrasound measures. These analyses will elucidate the possible relationship between CO (sub 2) and changes in vision and also inform future analysis of inflight VIIP data.

Young, M.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Ultrasound Characterization of Plastic Bonded Explosives With Varied Binder Content and Density

Advanced explosive formulations and methods of production require rapid characterization for both processes and materials. Here, we present results for ultrasound characterization of a plastic bonded explosive (PBX) formulation as a function of binder weight percent and pressing density using through-transmission sound speed measurements. The explosive in this study was composed of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) combined with the fluoropolymer binder Kynar Ultraflex B. Binder content ranged from 2.6 wt.% to 11.5 wt.% with associated explosive formulation densities from 1.69 g/cc to 1.89 g/cc. We find linear and nonlinear changes in longitudinal and shear sound speeds, peak frequencies, and measured elastic properties for the different PBX formulations. These measured changes can differentiate the tested formulations, highlighting the potential for ultrasound as a nondestructive characterization method for newly-formulated PBXs. We also demonstrate through-transmission measurements using different coupling media and present results from an ultrasound technique called resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). Both transmission and RUS approaches may allow for rapid and even automated characterization of PBX components suitable for high-throughput manufacturing operations.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2021

(Phospho)Proteomic dataset of ischemia- and ultrasound- stimulated mouse cardiac endothelial cells in vitro

Cardiac endothelial cells respond to both ischemia and therapeutic ultrasound; the proteomic changes underlying these responses are unknown. This data article provides raw and processed data resulting from our global, unbiased phosphoproteomics investigation conducted on primary mouse cardiac endothelial cells exposed to ischemia (2-hour oxygen glucose deprivation) and ultrasound (250 kHz, 1.2 MPa) in vitro [1]. Proteins were extracted from cell lysates and enriched phosphopeptides were analyzed with a high mass accuracy liquid chromatrography (LC) - tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) proteomic platform, yielding multiple alterations in both total protein levels and phosphorylation events in response to ischemic injury and ultrasound. This dataset can be used as a reference for future studies on the cardiac endothelial response to ischemia and the mechanistic underpinnings of the cellular response to ultrasound, with the potential to yield clinically relevant therapeutic targets.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Avoiding thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries using ultrasound detection of early failure mechanisms

Thermal runaway leading to catastrophic failure has slowed the adoption of lithium-ion batteries, highlighting the need for early warning systems. In this work, ultrasound is used to detect physical changes in 0.950 Ah Li-ion battery cells by inducing conditions associated with thermal runaway. Ultrasound signal features are extracted as the batteries are cycled under baseline conditions and subsequently subjected to constant current and voltage overcharges. Two conditions identifying failure are defined: a warning to detect the start of overcharge and an emergency stop (E-stop), to immediately take the battery out of service. Using changes in ultrasound signal features, consistent warning and stopping classifications are applied to all failure experiments. On average, a warning notification was issued after 15% of the overcharge time and an E-stop was triggered after 35% of total overcharge duration before failure. Further testing suggests that it is possible to avoid thermal runaway by reacting to intermediate, warning notifications prior to an immediate E-stop. In other words, not only can detection derived by ultrasound identify battery failure before a catastrophic event, but can also provide early, actionable warnings so that overcharges can be detected and corrected quickly enough so the battery does not need to be decommissioned.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Bayesian inferencing framework for ultrasound wave speed measurements in metal additive manufacturing

Process-related changes during metal additive manufacturing introduce microstructural variability in the material properties of printed parts, directly affecting component reliability. Accurate estimation of these property variations with part performance are essential for quality assurance. Ultrasound testing offers a non-destructive means to estimate mechanical properties and detect defects; however, conventional analysis methods often neglect the influence of microstructural variability, limiting their effectiveness. Here, this research presents a Bayesian inference technique for quantifying wave speed uncertainty from ultrasound measurements of metal additive manufactured parts. By integrating prior ultrasound data with a Bayesian model, the proposed approach generates posterior density estimates of wave speed that systematically account for manufacturing-induced variability and uncertainty. The novelty of this research lies in applying a Bayesian framework to analyze experimental ultrasound measurements within the context of metal additive manufacturing variability. The method enhances the accuracy of wave speed estimation by 64%, defect position by 50% and increases confidence associated with wave speed variance by 30% across different porosity levels, thereby providing a robust foundation for improved decision-making and increased reliability in additively manufactured components.

Additive manufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2024

Design and testing of ultrasound probe adapters for a robotic imaging platform

Medical imaging-based triage is a critical tool for emergency medicine in both civilian and military settings. Ultrasound imaging can be used to rapidly identify free fluid in abdominal and thoracic cavities which could necessitate immediate surgical intervention. However, proper ultrasound image capture requires a skilled ultrasonography technician who is likely unavailable at the point of injury where resources are limited. Instead, robotics and computer vision technology can simplify image acquisition. As a first step towards this larger goal, here, we focus on the development of prototypes for ultrasound probe securement using a robotics platform. The ability of four probe adapter technologies to precisely capture images at anatomical locations, repeatedly, and with different ultrasound transducer types were evaluated across more than five scoring criteria. Testing demonstrated two of the adapters outperformed the traditional robot gripper and manual image capture, with a compact, rotating design compatible with wireless imaging technology being most suitable for use at the point of injury. Next steps will integrate the robotic platform with computer vision and deep learning image interpretation models to automate image capture and diagnosis. This will lower the skill threshold needed for medical imaging-based triage, enabling this procedure to be available at or near the point of injury.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Deep learning models for interpretation of point of care ultrasound in military working dogs

Introduction: Military working dogs (MWDs) are essential for military operations in a wide range of missions. With this pivotal role, MWDs can become casualties requiring specialized veterinary care that may not always be available far forward on the battlefield. Some injuries such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, or abdominal hemorrhage can be diagnosed using point of care ultrasound (POCUS) such as the Global FAST® exam. This presents a unique opportunity for artificial intelligence (AI) to aid in the interpretation of ultrasound images. In this article, deep learning classification neural networks were developed for POCUS assessment in MWDs. Methods: Images were collected in five MWDs under general anesthesia or deep sedation for all scan points in the Global FAST® exam. For representative injuries, a cadaver model was used from which positive and negative injury images were captured. A total of 327 ultrasound clips were captured and split across scan points for training three different AI network architectures: MobileNetV2, DarkNet-19, and ShrapML. Gradient class activation mapping (GradCAM) overlays were generated for representative images to better explain AI predictions. Results: Performance of AI models reached over 82% accuracy for all scan points. The model with the highest performance was trained with the MobileNetV2 network for the cystocolic scan point achieving 99.8% accuracy. Across all trained networks the diaphragmatic hepatorenal scan point had the best overall performance. However, GradCAM overlays showed that the models with highest accuracy, like MobileNetV2, were not always identifying relevant features. Conversely, the GradCAM heatmaps for ShrapML show general agreement with regions most indicative of fluid accumulation. Discussion: Overall, the AI models developed can automate POCUS predictions in MWDs. Preliminarily, ShrapML had the strongest performance and prediction rate paired with accurately tracking fluid accumulation sites, making it the most suitable option for eventual real-time deployment with ultrasound systems. Further integration of this technology with imaging technologies will expand use of POCUS-based triage of MWDs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Differences in muscle contraction onset as determined by ultrasound and electromyography

ABSTRACT Introduction We characterize the agreement between the timing of muscle contraction onset detected by surface electromyography (sEMG), fine wire EMG (fwEMG), and motion‐mode (M‐mode) ultrasound for improved interpretations of clinical outcomes. Methods Eighteen healthy adults participated. Differences in contraction onset were compared between sEMG, fwEMG, and M‐mode ultrasound collected during concentric contractions of the vastus lateralis and biceps brachii. Results The mean difference of 13.1 ms (‐33.3–59.9) between sEMG and fwEMG was non‐significant (intraclass correlation [ICC] = 0.60). Ultrasound was significantly different from surface and fine wire EMG (ICC = 0.65 and ICC = 0.40, respectively), occurring 98.6 ms (72.3–124.9) and 111.7 (60.3–163.0) before sEMG and fwEMG, respectively. Nonparametric interquartile ranges were also wide. Conclusions Due to high variability, comparisons between EMG methods should be interpreted with caution. Ultrasound detected onset before either EMG method, which may indicate motion from adjacent muscles during voluntary contractions. Muscle Nerve 59:494–500, 2019

Tweedell, Andrew J.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Ultrasound-Assisted Leaching and Kinetic Study of Blended Copper Slag

This article deals with the dissolution of blended copper slag (flash and converter furnace) in hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid in the presence of ultrasound. The parameters that are effective on leaching efficiency, such as leaching temperature, leaching time, ultrasound power, acetic acid concentration, and hydrogen peroxide concentration, were investigated. The optimum leaching conditions for maximum copper dissolution (93 pct) and minimum iron dissolution (3 pct) were determined as follows: 2 M H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, 4 M CH{sub 3}COOH, 10 pct of ultrasound power, 65 °C of leaching temperature, 60 minutes of leaching time, and 1:25 of solid–liquid ratio. According to the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis results on the original sample and leaching residue, the ultrasound caused formation of microcracks on the particle surface; however, the BET surface area increased and the mean adsorption pore width decreased. The apparent activation energy was found to be 55.35 kJ/mol, and the kinetics equations of the processes were established.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

The Effect of Melt Ultrasound Treatment on the Microstructure and Age Hardenability of Al-4 Wt Pct Cu/TiC Composite

In the present work, Al-4 wt pct Cu/TiC composite was synthesized by the molten salt route that contains submicron-sized TiC particles in the Al-4 wt pct Cu matrix. The concentration of the TiC particle in the base alloy is 7.5 wt pct. Melt ultrasound treatment was done by remelting the as-cast composite at 1023 K (750 °C) in a view to refine the size of TiC particles to nanoscale and distribute them evenly in the matrix. The microstructure and age hardenability of the untreated and ultrasound-treated composites were investigated. The TiC particles accelerate the precipitation kinetics of CuAl{sub 2} phase in Al-4 wt pct Cu alloy. In the present study, the hardness obtained for untreated Al-4 wt pct Cu/TiC composite is 120 VHN within 5 hours of peak aging time, which is higher than the hardness of the monolithic Al-4 wt pct Cu, which is 104 VHN at 35 hours of peak aging time. Melt ultrasound treatment of Al-4 wt pct Cu/TiC composite shows no significant effect on the distribution and refinement of TiC particles in the matrix. However, it partially disintegrates the TiC into Al{sub 3}Ti and Al{sub 4}C{sub 3} particles. The ultrasound-treated composite showed an improved hardness of about 132 VHN at 5 hours of peak aging, in comparison to that of the untreated composite, by forming denser and homogeneous CuAl{sub 2} precipitates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Hydroxyl radical generation by dissociation of water molecules during 1.65 MHz frequency ultrasound irradiation under aerobic conditions

The dissociation of water molecules by ultrasound irradiation under aerobic conditions was demonstrated experimentally. To be able to detect the dissociation of water molecules, we performed the ultrasound irradiation of {sup 17}O-labelled water (H{sub 2}{sup 17}O) under aerobic conditions. The hydroxyl and hydrogen radicals generated during the ultrasound irradiation process were trapped with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was performed on the DMPO spin adducts. In the ESR spectrum, a 15-line signal attributable to the trapping of the hydroxyl radicals containing {sup 17}O ({sup 17}OH radicals) by DMPO together with a 4-line signal attributable to the trapping of the hydroxyl radicals containing {sup 16}O ({sup 16}OH radicals) by DMPO were observed. The generation of {sup 17}OH radicals indicated that H{sub 2}{sup 17}O was dissociated by the sonolysis process under aerobic conditions. On the other hand, the ESR signal attributable to the trapping of hydrogen radicals by DMPO was not observed, suggesting that hydrogen radicals were not generated during the dissociation of water molecules. - Highlights: • OH radicals was observed in air-saturated water under 1.65 MHz ultrasound. • The OH radicals were originated from both H{sub 2}O and O{sub 2.} • The H{sub 2}O sonolysis was detected by using {sup 17}O-labelled water.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Four dimensional hybrid ultrasound and optoacoustic imaging via passive element optical excitation in a hand-held probe

Ultrasonography and optoacoustic imaging share powerful advantages related to the natural aptitude for real-time image rendering with high resolution, the hand-held operation, and lack of ionizing radiation. The two methods also possess very different yet highly complementary advantages of the mechanical and optical contrast in living tissues. Nonetheless, efficient integration of these modalities remains challenging owing to the fundamental differences in the underlying physical contrast, optimal signal acquisition, and image reconstruction approaches. We report on a method for hybrid acquisition and reconstruction of three-dimensional pulse-echo ultrasound and optoacoustic images in real time based on passive ultrasound generation with an optical absorber, thus avoiding the hardware complexity of active ultrasound generation. In this way, complete hybrid datasets are generated with a single laser interrogation pulse, resulting in simultaneous rendering of ultrasound and optoacoustic images at an unprecedented rate of 10 volumetric frames per second. Performance is subsequently showcased in phantom experiments and in-vivo measurements from a healthy human volunteer, confirming general clinical applicability of the method.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Optical tomography of fluorophores in dense scattering media based on ultrasound-enhanced chemiluminescence

This letter proposes and demonstrates ultrasound-combined optical imaging in dense scattering media. A peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence system that includes fluorophores to chemically excite the pigment is stimulated by ultrasound irradiation with power of less than 0.14 W/cm{sup 2}. Using focused ultrasound, the chemiluminescence is selectively spatially enhanced, which leads to imaging of the pigment when embedded in a light-scattering medium via scanning of the focal point. The ultrasonically enhanced intensity of the chemiluminescence depends on the base intensity of the chemiluminescence without the applied ultrasound irradiation, which thereby enables quantitative determination of the fluorophore concentration. The authors demonstrate the potential of this method to resolve chemiluminescent targets in a dense scattering medium that is comparable to biological tissue. An image was acquired of a chemiluminescent target that included indocyanine green as the fluorophore embedded at a depth of 20 mm in an Intralipid-10% 200 ml/l solution scattering medium (the reduced scattering coefficient was estimated to be approximately 1.3 mm{sup −1}), indicating the potential for expansion of this technique for use in biological applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Acoustic emission and magnification of atomic lines resolution for laser breakdown of salt water in ultrasound field

Researches of the acoustic effects accompanying optical breakdown in a water, generated by the focused laser radiation with power ultrasound have been carried out. Experiments were performed by using 532 nm pulses from Brilliant B Nd:YAG laser. Acoustic radiation was produced by acoustic focusing systems in the form hemisphere and ring by various resonance frequencies of 10.7 kHz and 60 kHz. The experimental results are obtained, that show the sharply strengthens effects of acoustic emission from a breakdown zone by the joint influence of a laser and ultrasonic irradiation. Essentially various thresholds of breakdown and character of acoustic emission in fresh and sea water are found out. The experimental result is established, testifying that acoustic emission of optical breakdown of sea water at presence and at absence of ultrasound essentially exceeds acoustic emission in fresh water. Atomic lines of some chemical elements like a Sodium, Magnesium and so on were investigated for laser breakdown of water with ultrasound field. The effect of magnification of this lines resolution for salt water in ultrasound field was obtained.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

The effects of temperature and frequencies in ultrasound assisted extraction of phycocyanin from microalgae Spirulina sp

Microalgae Spirulina sp has been identified as source of protein and other high added value compounds. One of the compounds is phycocyanin as also known for antioxidant use. The extraction of this compound by using conventional method (soxhlet extraction) resulted low yield and longer processing time. This research was aimed to extract phycocyanin by using an extraction assisted by ultrasound irradiation. The extraction was performed by using variable of ultrasound frequency and extraction temperature and ethanol was used as a solvent. The result showed that yield of phycocyanin extracted by conventional method was 11.13% while the ultrasound irradiation could increase the yield up to 15.61% at constant frequency of 42 kHz, while the optimum temperature was obtained at 45°C. The analysis of variable interactions showed that both temperature and time has an interaction and temperature was the highest variable in increasing the yield. The conclusion of this research was the ultrasound could improve significantly the efficiency of extraction as well as activity of phycocyanin extracted from microalgae.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Liquid metallic laser ultrasound transducer for high-temperature applications

This study aims to investigate a laser ultrasound (LUS) transducer for high-temperature (>100 °C) applications. For decades, many researchers have investigated efficient LUS transducers, yet studies on laser ultrasound transducers capable of performing at the high-temperature condition are rarely found in the literature. Most current LUS transducers still utilize a polymer-based composite material, that is, not stable at varying temperature conditions. This study introduces a liquid metallic (LM) LUS transducer that utilizes field's metal, which has a high thermal expansion (~3 × 10 -4 K -1 ). We hypothesized that such a high thermal expansion of the liquid metal can effectively produce laser-generated ultrasound waves, substituting for conventional polymer-based transducers. A numerical simulation predicted that the LM LUS transducer would produce higher LUS intensity (~22 dB) than that without the LUS transducer. Experiment results confirmed that the LM transducer effectively intensifies the ultrasound wave signals, obtaining a signal-to-noise gain over 30 dB. Moreover, the transducer was found capable of transmitting detectable wave packets in relatively high-temperature conditions (~400 °C), while conventional candle soot nanoparticle-polydimethylsiloxane could not perform stably at these elevated temperatures. The investigations introduced in this article are scientifically significant since we demonstrated the engineering feasibility of liquid metallic materials for LUS transducers.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Fiber coupled laser ultrasound system using a single mode hollow core fiber for excitation laser: Theory and demonstration for on-machine thickness gauging

Laser ultrasound (LU) is a technique that uses a pump laser and a probe laser to optically generate and detect elastic waves in a material. Despite its advantages over traditional contact transducer-based ultrasound, industrial adoption has been limited by complex optical setups and the inability of multi-mode fibers to deliver a stable Gaussian profile for the pump laser. Here, we report a fully fiber-coupled thermoelastic LU system that uses an anti-resonant hollow-core single-mode fiber to deliver 1 mJ nanosecond pulses of 1064 nm light, while preserving the fundamental Gaussian mode (pump laser). When combined with a fiber-coupled interferometer (probe laser), a small, flexible, and environmentally robust sensor capable of optically generating and detecting high frequency broadband ultrasound is realized. We demonstrate such an LU system implemented in situ on a four-axis precision lathe. High-resolution thickness gauging is performed, before and after precision cutting, by exciting and measuring a zero-group velocity guided wave mode. The measurements are verified with ex-situ traceable coordinate measuring machine data. Mean absolute deviations of 0.1%, of nominal thickness, before cutting, and 0.2% and 0.3%, after stepped and tapered cuts, respectively, are reported. A theoretical background for thermoelastic ultrasound generation in an elastic waveguide is also presented. Attention is given to the effect of the pump laser profile on wave generation to elucidate the importance of using single-mode laser light. The fiber-coupled system demonstrated is well-suited for use in scientific and engineering sensing applications and facilitates the adoption of LU for industrial non-destructive testing.

Engineering↗