Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Layered Structures”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Behavior of streamwise rib vortices in a three-dimensional mixing layer

The structure and behavior of a streamwise rib vortex in a direct numerical simulation of a time-developing three-dimensional incompressible plane mixing layer is examined. Where the rib vortex is being stretched, the vorticity vector is primarily directed in the vortex axial direction and the radial and azimuthal velocity distribution is similar to that of a Burger's vortex. In the region where the vortex stretching is negative, there is a change in the local topology of the vortex. The axial flow is decelerated and a negative azimuthal component of vorticity is induced. These features are characteristic of vortex breakdown. The temporal evolution of the rib vortex is similar to the evolution of an axisymmetric vortex in the early stages of vortex breakdown. The effect of vortex breakdown on other parts of the flow is, however, not as significant as the interaction between the rib vortex and other vortices.

Lopez, J. M.↗

Magnetism in structures with ferromagnetic and superconducting layers

The influence of superconductivity on ferromagnetism in the layered Ta/V/Fe{sub 1–x}V{sub x}/V/Fe{sub 1–x}V{sub x}/Nb/Si structures consisting of ferromagnetic and superconducting layers is studied using polarized neutron reflection and scattering. It is experimentally shown that magnetic structures with linear sizes from 5 nm to 30 μm are formed in these layered structures at low temperatures. The magnetization of the magnetic structures is suppressed by superconductivity at temperatures below the superconducting transition temperatures in the V and Nb layers. The magnetic states of the structures are shown to undergo relaxation over a wide magnetic-field range, which is caused by changes in the states of clusters, domains, and Abrikosov vortices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Direct Observation of Defect‐Aided Structural Evolution in a Nickel‐Rich Layered Cathode

Abstract Ni‐rich LiNi 1− x − y Mn x Co y O 2 (NMC) layered compounds are the dominant cathode for lithium ion batteries. The role of crystallographic defects on structure evolution and performance degradation during electrochemical cycling is not yet fully understood. Here, we investigated the structural evolution of a Ni‐rich NMC cathode in a solid‐state cell by in situ transmission electron microscopy. Antiphase boundary (APB) and twin boundary (TB) separating layered phases played an important role on phase change. Upon Li depletion, the APB extended across the layered structure, while Li/transition metal (TM) ion mixing in the layered phases was detected to induce the rock‐salt phase formation along the coherent TB. According to DFT calculations, Li/TM mixing and phase transition were aided by the low diffusion barriers of TM ions at planar defects. This work reveals the dynamical scenario of secondary phase evolution, helping unveil the origin of performance fading in Ni‐rich NMC.

Li, Shuang↗

A class of unsteady, three-dimensional flow structures in turbulent boundary layers

A restricted class of mathematically admissible, unsteady, three dimensional flows was identified which may constitute part of the structure observed in turbulent boundary layers. The development of the model and some general results are discussed. The resulting solution has characteristics which suggest how upwelling low speed flow can trigger a downward jetting of irrotational high speed fluid into the boundary layer.

Ash, R. L.↗

Microstructure of irradiated AGR TRISO particle buffer layers as measured by X-ray computed tomography

Shrinkage of the initially low-density buffer layer in tristructural isotropic (TRISO) coated fuel particles during irradiation is a well-known phenomenon with potential implications for fission product and actinide transport, as well as potential pyrocarbon fracture that in some cases has been observed to impact particle performance. During post-irradiation examination, the buffer layer's structure is commonly determined using 2D microscopy of a particle cross section or a series of particle cross sections at staggered depths. Although these methods provide a general idea of the irradiated buffer microstructure, they do not provide a full picture of the TRISO coating microstructure. By contrast, x-ray computed tomography (XCT) provides full 3D imaging of the TRISO particle. Particles from various compacts irradiated for the Advanced Gas Reactor Fuel Development and Qualification Program were imaged using XCT. Some of these particles were selected because of abnormal fission product inventories (e.g., low 137 Cs), whereas others were randomly selected from the center of the fission product inventory distribution. Qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques were applied to the randomly selected particles as representatives of typical TRISO behavior to study the post-irradiation structure of the buffer layer. These results showed that, while separation of the buffer and inner pyrolytic carbon layers was a common behavior during the radiation-induced shrinkage of the buffer, a portion of the original buffer/inner pyrolytic carbon interface remained intact throughout irradiation in nearly all cases. Furthermore, these results also indicated clear trends in the degree of buffer densification with irradiation temperature and fluence.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Reynolds stress scaling in the near-wall region of wall-bounded flows

A new scaling is derived that yields a Reynolds-number-independent profile for all components of the Reynolds stress in the near-wall region of wall-bounded flows, including channel, pipe and boundary layer flows. The scaling demonstrates the important role played by the wall shear stress fluctuations and how the large eddies determine the Reynolds number dependence of the near-wall turbulence behaviour.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Ten-micron eclipse observations of Io, Europa, and Ganymede.

Eclipse observations of Jupiter's satellites Io, Europa, and Ganymede have been obtained in an 8 to 14-micron band pass during 1971. The simplest thermal model able to explain the data for each satellite is a two-layer surface structure with an upper layer, only a few millimeters thick, having low thermal conductivity consistent with fine rock powder or frost, and a subsurface having high thermal conductivity consistent with solid rock or dense ice. The upper layer on Io appears to be different from that on Europa and Ganymede, but the two-layer model fits all three satellites.

Hansen, O. L.↗

Organic light-emitting diodes comprising grating structures and light extraction layers

Embodiments described herein generally relate to organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) comprising a substrate, a light extraction layer, a first electrode, one or more organic layers, and a second electrode. In some embodiments, the light extraction layer is positioned between the substrate and the first electrode. According to some embodiments, an interface between the light extraction layer and the first electrode comprises a grating structure. The grating structure may, in certain cases, promote outcoupling of light generated within the OLED (e.g., through diffraction).

So, Franky Fat Kei↗

Radiative transfer theory for passive microwave remote sensing of a two-layer random medium with cylindrical structures

A model of the vegetation layer as a two-layer random medium with a small correlation length l sub rho in the horizontal direction, and a large correlation length l sub z in the vertical direction, is presented for fields with cylindrical structures. As l sub z approaches infinity, closed form solutions are derived for the brightness temperatures; the kernels in the scattering terms of the radiative transfer equations result in delta functions showing that forward scattering is dominant over all other directions. The results are compared with the Gaussian quadrature method data for numerical solution of the radiative transfer equations.

Chuang, S. L.↗

Acoustic structure and propagation in highly porous, layered, fibrous materials

The acoustic structure and propagation of sound in highly porous, layered, fine fiber materials is examined. Of particular interest is the utilization of the Kozeny number for determining the static flow resistance and the static structure factor based on flow permeability measurements. In this formulation the Kozeny number is a numerical constant independent of volume porosity at high porosities. The other essential parameters are then evaluated employing techniques developed earlier for open cell foams. The attenuation and progressive phase characteristics in bulk samples are measured and compared with predicted values. The agreements on the whole are very satisfactory.

Lambert, R. F.↗

Acoustic structure and propagation in highly porous, layered, fibrous materials

The acoustic structure and propagation of sound in highly porous, layered, fine fiber materials is examined. Of particular interest is the utilization of the Kozeny number for determining the static flow resistance and the static structure factor based on flow permeability measurements. In this formulation the Kozeny number is a numerical constant independent of volume porosity at high porosities. The other essential parameters are then evaluated employing techniques developed earlier for open cell foams. The attenuation and progressive phase characteristics in bulk samples are measured and compared with predicted values. The agreements on the whole are very satisfactory.

Lambert, R. F.↗

Direct observation of defect-aided structural evolution in Ni-rich layered cathode

Ni-rich LiNi 1-x-y Mn x Co y O 2 (NMC) layered compounds have become the dominated cathode for lithium ion batteries. The role of crystallographic defects on their structure evolution and consequent performance degradation during electrochemical cycling is not yet fully understood. In this work, we investigated the structural evolution of Ni-rich NMC cathode in a solid-state cell via in-situ transmission electron microscopy. We identified antiphase boundary (APB) and twin boundary (TB) separating layered phases played an important role on phase change. Upon the lithium depletion, the APB extends across the layered structure, while Li/transition metal (TM) ion mixing in the layered phases is detected to induce the rock-salt phase formation along the coherent TB. According to DFT calculations, Li/TM mixing and phase transition are aided by the low diffusion barriers of TM ions at planar defects. Finally, this work reveals the dynamical scenario of secondary phase evolution, which helps to unveil the origin of performance fading in Ni-rich NMC.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Coherent structures in a boundary layer and shear layer of a turbulent backward-facing step flow

A wind tunnel experiment has been carried out at the NASA Ames Research Center to analyze the evolution of coherent structures from a boundary layer to a shear layer in a turbulent, backward-facing, step flow. A miniature X-wire/cold-wire probe has been used in conjunction with two arrays of cold wires, one aligned in the plane of main shear and the other in the spanwise direction of the flow, to detect and characterize delta-scale organized structures in the outer regions of the flow and to provide detailed information concerning these structures. Kinematic features of the events associated with the large scale structures were analyzed and topological pictures of the evolving flow, as well as the contributions to the Reynolds shear stress components are presented.

Jovic, Srba↗

Ellipsometric study of metal-organic chemically vapor deposited III-V semiconductor structures

An ellipsometric study of MOCVD-grown layers of AlGaAs and InGaAs in thick films and strained layer complex structures is presented. It is concluded that the ternary composition of thick nonstrained layers can be accurately determined to within experimental errors using numerical algorithms. In the case of complex structures, thickness of all layers and the alloy composition of nonstrained layers can be determined simultaneously, provided that the correlations between parameters is no higher than 0.9.

Alterovitz, Samuel A.↗

History of Structural Stitching Development for Aerospace Applications

Layered composite structures are a commonly used, lightweight option for aerospace vehicles today. However, these structures are prone to delamination between plies as well as separation between co-cured sections such as skins and flanges. In addition, delamination can easily be induced by impact damage from events such as tool drops and hailstones. Since such delaminations are often not visible from the external surface of the structure, additional material or fasteners must be included in the design to ensure the structure will maintain the required load-carrying ability through its lifetime. However, adding extra material increases weight and reduces structural efficiency and adding fasteners and their associated holes reduces manufacturing efficiency and adds the requirement to inspect the holes since they could become crack initiation points. Alternate means to reduce delaminations could be beneficial. An alternative to these options is to build the structure with through-thickness reinforcement, such as using stitching threads, to limit delamination, increase out-of-plane strength, and provide a method to join structural elements together without fasteners. The history of through-thickness stitching as it could be applied to aerospace vehicles is described in this paper.

carbon-epoxy↗