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At least 1,135 records · Page 63
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Further Development of the Tamped Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability Method and Application to Molybdenum Dynamic Strength Calibration and Tabulation

The high pressure and high strain rate dynamic strength of Mo is experimentally and computationally investigated in the 3–20 GPa stress, 50–600 C temperature, and 10 5 –10 6 /s strain rate regimes using a modified tamped Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) method. Modifications to the tamped RMI method include a method to determine loading states during strain, a new strength calibration function based on interface shape, and a robust uncertainty quantification method. These modifications improve fidelity of the tamped RMI method, allowing evaluation of the compensating effects of pressure hardening, strain rate hardening, strain hardening, and thermal softening. The new calibration function based on interface shape is not limited to sinusoidal corrugations and could be applied to additional interface shapes. Plate impact experiments are performed at Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source’s Dynamic Compression Sector operated by Washington State University (DCS), driving a planar shock front through a corrugated Mo-D 2 O or Mo-C 8 F 18 interface, forcing the corrugation to significantly deform. The extent of interfacial deformation, RMI growth, is experimentally observed using X-ray phase contrast imaging at the DCS. RMI jet lengths and jet shapes are extracted from the experimental radiographs, then used to calibrate numerical simulations performed with the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) hydrocode CTH. Mo yield strength, Y, as a function of shock pressure, P, strain rate, $\dot{\varepsilon }$, accumulated strain, ϵ, relative volumetric compression, RD , and temperature, T , is determined for each impact experiment and presented. The calibrated Mo yield strength values range 1.2–1.8 GPa, with strength generally decreasing as the impact stress increases. This trend is likely caused by thermal softening or strain localization. The tabular yield strength versus loading condition data presented in this paper can be used to fit complex strength models.

Voorhees, T. J. [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Li↗
DOE OSTI2016

Constitution of Drop-Tube-Generated Coal Chars from Vitrinite- and Inertinite-Rich South African Coals

The structural transformations of coal and the resultant char morphologies are strongly dependent on the initial structure and degree of thermoplasticity achieved during coal-to-char transition. These are a function of petrographic composition, rank, particle size, and heating rate and strongly affect combustion behavior. This study compares the devolatilization and subsequent combustion behavior of an inertinite-rich (87.7% dmmf) and a vitrinite-rich (91.8% dmmf) South African coal, wet-screened to a narrow particle size distribution of 200 x 400 mesh. Pyrolysis chars were generated under rapid-heating conditions (104-105 °C/s) in a drop-tube reactor to closely resemble chars generated in pulverized combustion conditions. The inertinite-rich coal took ~ 400 ms to devolatilize in the drop-tube, compared to only ~ 240 ms for the vitrinite-rich sample. The chemical and physical structure (the constitution) of the chars were investigated through a range of chemical, physical, and optical characteristics including the maceral differences, and high ash yields. To evaluate the combustion reactivity non-isothermal burn-out profiles were obtained through thermogravimetrical analyses (TGA) in air. The vitrinite-rich char had on average 20% higher reaction rates than the inertinite-rich char under the various combustion conditions. The char samples were de-ashed with HCl and HF acid which resulted in an increase in combustion reactivity. The maximum reaction rate of the high-ash (36% ash yield) inertinite-rich char increased with 80% after de-ashing. While the vitrinite-rich char with an ash yield of 15%, had a 20% increase in reactivity after de-ashing. The ash acted as a barrier, and the removal of ash most likely increased the access to reactive surface area. The chemical and physical structures of the chars were characterized through a range of different analytical techniques to quantify the factors contributing to reactivity differences. The morphologies of the chars were characterized with SEM and optical microscopy, while quantitative information on the ordered nature of chars was obtained through XRD on de-ashed chars. The inertinite-rich coal experienced limited fluidity during heat-treatment, resulting in slower devolatilization, limited growth in crystallite height (11.8 to 12.6Å), only rounding of particle edges, and producing > 40% of mixed-dense type chars. The vitrinite-char showed more significant structural transformations; producing mostly (80%) extensively swollen crassisphere, tenuisphere, and network-type chars, and XRD showed a large increase in crystallite height (4.3 to 11.7Å). Nitrogen adsorption and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were utilized to compare the nitrogen surface areas and pore size distributions. Both chars were mostly mesoporous but the inertinite-rich char had double the average pore size, which also resulted in a larger nitrogen surface area since nitrogen can only access surface areas in larger pores. The BET surface area was 3.9 and 2.7 m2/g for the inertinite- and vitrinite-rich chars respectively. SAXS data showed that the vitrinite-rich char had 60% higher frequencies of pores in the micropore range. Helium porosimetry indicated that the inertinite-rich coal and resultant char had higher densities than the vitrinite coal and char; 1.6 and 2.0 g/cm3, compared to 1.3 and 1.9 g/cm3 (dry basis). Non-isothermal TGA burnout profiles showed the inertinite-rich char had a burnout temperature of 680°C, slightly higher than the vitrinite-rich char’s 650 °C. This, along with the peak shape and position in the burnout profiles indicate that the vitrinite-rich char has a higher reactivity. The higher reactivity is due to a combination of factors likely including less organization, grater porosity and access to the reactive site, less ash blocking, and char morphology differences.

Combustion↗
DOE OSTI2016

Transparent Metal–Organic Framework/Polymer Mixed Matrix Membranes as Water Vapor Barriers

Preventing the permeation of reactive molecules into electronic devices or photovoltaic modules is of significant concern to ensure their life span and reliability. Our report is focused on the formation of highly functioning barrier films based on nanocrystals (NCs) of a water-scavenging metal-organic framework (MOF) and a hydrophobic cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) to overcome the current limitations. Water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) of the films reveal a 10-fold enhancement in the WVTR compared to the substrate while maintaining outstanding transparency over most of the visible and solar spectrum, a necessary condition for integration with optoelectronic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Adsorption-based membranes for air separation using transition metal oxides

In this work, we use computational modeling to examine the viability of adsorption-based pore-flow membranes for separating gases when a purely size-based separation strategy is ineffective. Using molecular dynamics simulations of O 2 and N 2 , we model permeation through a nanoporous graphene membrane. Permeation is assumed to follow a five-step adsorption-based pathway, with desorption being the rate-limiting step. Using this model, we observe increased selectivity between O 2 and N 2 , resulting from increased adsorption energy differences. We explore the limits of this strategy, providing an initial set of constraints that need to be satisfied to allow for selectivity. Finally, we provide a preliminary exploration of some transition metal oxides that appear to satisfy those conditions. Using density functional theory calculations, we confirm that these oxides possess adsorption energies needed to operate as adsorption-based pore-flow membranes. These adsorption energies provide a suitable motivation to examine adsorption-based pore-flow membranes as a viable option for air separation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

The Multicenter Aerobic Iron Respiratory Chain of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Functions as an Ensemble with a Single Macroscopic Rate Constant

Electron transfer reactions among three prominent colored proteins in intact cells of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were monitored using an integrating cavity absorption meter that permitted the acquisition of accurate absorbance data in suspensions of cells that scattered light. The concentrations of proteins in the periplasmic space were estimated to be 350 and 25 mg/ml for rusticyanin and cytochrome c, respectively; cytochrome a was present as one molecule for every 91 nm2 in the cytoplasmic membrane. All three proteins were rapidly reduced to the same relative extent when suspensions of live bacteria were mixed with different concentrations of ferrous ions at pH 1.5. The subsequent molecular oxygen-dependent oxidation of the multicenter respiratory chain occurred with a single macroscopic rate constant, regardless of the proteins' in vitro redox potentials or their putative positions in the aerobic iron respiratory chain. The crowded electron transport proteins in the periplasm of the organism constituted an electron conductive medium where the network of protein interactions functioned in a concerted fashion as a single ensemble with a standard reduction potential of 650 mV. The appearance of product ferric ions was correlated with the reduction levels of the periplasmic electron transfer proteins; the limiting first-order catalytic rate constant for aerobic respiration on iron was 7,400 s -1 . The ability to conduct direct spectrophotometric studies under noninvasive physiological conditions represents a new and powerful approach to examine the extent and rates of biological events in situ without disrupting the complexity of the live cellular environment.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-770: Tumor Control in Ion Beam Radiotherapy with Different Ions in Presence of Hypoxia

Purpose: The reduced concentration of oxygen in cells (hypoxia) results in a lower cell death rate after irradiation that can lead to treatment failure. The effect can be expressed by the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER). So far, only few attempts to include OER in treatment planning for ion beam therapy were made, which are based on the dose averaged LET estimates and do not distinguish among ion species and fractionation schemes. To overcome these limitations, we implemented a new OER model and used it to estimate tumor control in clinical cases. Methods: The model, based on the microdosimetric kinetic model, was benchmarked with in-vitro data from different ions irradiation. It was included in the simulation of treatments of a set of clinical cases (glioblastoma) using p, Li, He, C and O ion beams. Tumor Control Probability (TCP) was estimated as a function of oxygen partial pressure, dose per fraction and primary ion type. Results: The modelized OER was found to be strongly dependent on both LET and ion type, and showed a decreasing OER for increasing dose per fraction with a slope that depends on the LET and ion type, in good agreement with the experimental data. In the clinical cases studied, an increase in TCP by increasing ion charge and dose per fraction (more than 30% variation from p to O for moderate hypoxia) was found. Higher OER decrease rates as function of dose per fraction were found for lighter ions (up to 20% varying from 2 to 8 Gy(RBE)). Conclusions: A novel modeling of the OER that explicitly includes the dependence on ion type and dose per fraction was implemented. The model was exploited to evaluate the impact of hypoxia in ion beam radiotherapy, facilitating the identification of the treatment condition optimality, including fractionation scheme and ion type.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Simulating Surface and Subsurface Water Balance Changes Due to Burn Severity

Forest fires have a significant impact on hydrology, such as reduced infiltration rates leading to increased flooding. However, post-fire water balance changes and the competing hydrologic response of increased runoff and evapotranspiration as a function of burn severity are not well understood. Comparing pre- and post-fire water balance changes is challenging because measurements of fire-disturbed landscapes with the previously undisturbed character are impractical due to non-repetitive observational conditions. We used a physically based modeling experiment to incorporate burn severity data from the Las Conchas fire to approximate model parameterization to evaluate continuous water balance progression for pre- and post-fire simulations using the same forcing conditions. Fire disturbance decreased evapotranspiration and increased overland flow response to precipitation events. The reduction of evapotranspiration often dominated the new water balance compared with the increase in overland flow, resulting in higher soil moisture. However, this modeling experiment also identified a tipping point where increased overland flow from high burn severity sites eclipses the effect of reduced evapotranspiration on the water balance, causing comparatively drier post-fire soils. In particular, high burn severity sites approach a threshold that results in larger changes to overland flow than changes in evapotranspiration, potentially moving the site to an overland flow dominated regime. The shifts in water balance components have implications for how site conditions will change under a range of burn severity scenarios.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sensor Recommendations for Long Term Monitoring of the F-Area Seepage Basins

In mid-2018, a new paradigm for long-term monitoring was developed after of decade of applied research projects funded by the Department of Energy’s office of Environmental Management Technology Development program. The program at SRNL was focused on transitioning complex environmental waste sites from active to passive remediations strategies. A key result of these studies was that the use of enhanced attenuation approaches at radiologically contaminated sites will result in the creation of secondary source areas in the subsurface that will require monitoring for decades. Alternative monitoring approaches are being developed and tested at the Savannah River Site’s F-Area Hazardous Waste Management Facility, the new paradigm provides innovative solutions that will significantly lower costs of monitoring through the coupling of data collection, machine learning and deterministic groundwater modeling. The foundation of this approach is a well-optimized network of sensors for measuring hydrogeochemical master variables that control, and therefore act as indicators of groundwater contaminant transport. By monitoring changes in the controlling master variables over time arising from geological and environmental shifts, predictive modelling can assist with identifying new strategies for ensuring regulatory requirements are met if trends toward conditions for potential remobilization of attenuated contaminants are detected. In this report, we evaluated commercially available single parameter sensor platforms (e.g., temperature/depth) and configurable multi-parameter sensor platforms (e.g., pH, oxidation-reduction potential, temperature, depth, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity). Each was scored using an optimization function based on how well the system supports the proposed long-term monitoring paradigm, in general, and the site-specific conditions at F-Area, in particular. Several viable sensor systems were identified. Of these, a combined platform including the In-Situ Aqua TROLL 500 multi-parameter sensor platform and the In-Situ temperature/depth sensor had the highest rating and was identified as the most suitable candidate for installation and monitoring of the master variables and potentiometric surface that control groundwater contaminant plumes emanating from the F-Area Seepage Basins. The discussion of recommended potential deployment locations builds upon recommendations made by Denham et al (2019).

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2016

THE QUEST FOR DUSTY STAR-FORMING GALAXIES AT HIGH REDSHIFT z ≳ 4

We exploit the continuity equation approach and “main-sequence” star formation timescales to show that the observed high abundance of galaxies with stellar masses ≳ a few 10{sup 10} M {sub ⊙} at redshift z ≳ 4 implies the existence of a galaxy population featuring large star formation rates (SFRs) ψ ≳ 10{sup 2} M {sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} in heavily dust-obscured conditions. These galaxies constitute the high-redshift counterparts of the dusty star-forming population already surveyed for z ≲ 3 in the far-IR band by the Herschel Space Observatory . We work out specific predictions for the evolution of the corresponding stellar mass and SFR functions out to z ∼ 10, determining that the number density at z ≲ 8 for SFRs ψ ≳ 30 M {sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} cannot be estimated relying on the UV luminosity function alone, even when standard corrections for dust extinction based on the UV slope are applied. We compute the number counts and redshift distributions (including galaxy-scale gravitational lensing) of this galaxy population, and show that current data from the AzTEC - LABOCA , SCUBA-2 , and ALMA - SPT surveys are already addressing it. We demonstrate how an observational strategy based on color preselection in the far-IR or (sub-)millimeter band with Herschel and SCUBA-2 , supplemented by photometric data from on-source observations with ALMA , can allow us to reconstruct the bright end of the SFR functions out to z ≲ 8. In parallel, such a challenging task can be managed by exploiting current UV surveys in combination with (sub-)millimeter observations by ALMA and NIKA2 and/or radio observations by SKA and its precursors.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electromagnetic Response of Superconducting RF Cavities

Recently reported anomalies in frequency shift of order δƒ ~ 0.1–10 kHz for Niobium SRF cavities in a narrow temperature region near T c ≃ 9 K are sensitive to the surface preparation and Nitrogen doping. We developed methods for calculating the surface current response of Nb SRF cavities, as well as the resonant frequency shift and quality factor, as functions of temperature, frequency and disorder based on the Keldysh formulation of the theory for nonequilibrium superconductivity coupled with Maxwell’s theory and boundary conditions for the response functions and electromagnetic field. We show that the anomaly is sensitive to impurity disorder. Our results for the anomaly in the frequency shift are in good agreement with experimental results for Nb with an anisotropic gap on the Fermi surface and inhomogeneous non-magnetic disorder. We also show that the quality factor as a function of the impurity scattering rate is maximum for in SRF cavities with intermediate disorder, ℏ/τΔ~O(1) with the maximum $Q$ decreasing with increasing frequency.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1985

Development of ADOCS controllers and control laws. Volume 2: Literature review and preliminary analysis

The Advanced Cockpit Controls/Advanced Flight Control System (ACC/AFCS) study was conducted by the Boeing Vertol Company as part of the Army's Advanced Digital/Optical Control System (ADOCS) program. Specifically, the ACC/AFCS investigation was aimed at developing the flight control laws for the ADOCS demonstrator aircraft which will provide satisfactory handling qualities for an attack helicopter mission. The three major elements of design considered are as follows: Pilot's integrated Side-Stick Controller (SSC) -- Number of axes controlled; force/displacement characteristics; ergonomic design. Stability and Control Augmentation System (SCAS)--Digital flight control laws for the various mission phases; SCAS mode switching logic. Pilot's Displays--For night/adverse weather conditions, the dynamics of the superimposed symbology presented to the pilot in a format similar to the Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) Pilot Night Vision System (PNVS) for each mission phase as a function of ACAS characteristics; display mode switching logic. Findings from the literature review and the analysis and synthesis of desired control laws are reported in Volume 2. Conclusions drawn from pilot rating data and commentary were used to formulate recommendations for the ADOCS demonstrator flight control system design. The ACC/AFCS simulation data also provide an extensive data base to aid the development of advanced flight control system design for future V/STOL aircraft.

Landis, Kenneth H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Stabilization functions of unforced cumulus clouds - Their nature and components

The nature and the spatial distribution of cumuli within an unforced cumulus cloud field are investigated. The thermodynamic effects of convection are quantified as functions of changes of convective available potential energy (CAPE) induced by the convective overturning, and the time rate of change of CAPE is parameterized in terms of a kernel of influence or stabilization function. A three-dimensional cloud model is used to infer and quantify stabilization functions by performing single-cloud experiments. On the basis of the results obtained, a new hypothesis with respect to the spatial distribution of cumuli is postulated, which states that, under completely homogeneous external conditions and assuming a spatially random distribution of cloud-triggering mechanisms, the spatial distribution of cumuli in the resulting cloud field must be regular, as opposed to either random or clustered, because cumulus clouds tend to reduce the available energy for convection, thereby inhibiting further convection nearby.

Ramirez, Jorge A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Bearing Tester Data Compilation Analysis, and Reporting and Bearing Math Modeling

The magnitude and direction of fluid induced torques and forces on the 57 mm bearing cage is considered to be a contributing factor in possible cage instabilities that can produce intermittent high heating in the bearing. Analyses of the fluid forces and torques are presented. Heat generated by viscous fluid work was estimated for two flow diverter configurations and a coolant flow of 10 lbs/sec to support the thermal evaluation of the LOX Bearing Materials Tester. Results of the analysis of the LOX turbopump turbine end bearings are discussed. Coolant velocities for the no. 4 LOX turbopump turbine end bearings were estimated as a function of shaft speed and coolant flow rate. Contact angles and track width data were developed for the 57 mm bearing as functions of shaft speed, and axial and radial loads. The Advanced Dynamics of Rolling Elements (ADORE) computer program was installed on the MSFC UNIVAC 1100 and a test case successfully run. Both the text output and the plotting output were verified. The Bearing Seal and Materials Tester - Test Condition Data Base was developed. The parametric analysis of the operating characteristics of the LOX turbopump pump end bearing using the 45 mm bearing thermal model was begun.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1994

A new stochastic systems approach to structural integrity

This paper develops improved stochastic models for the description of a large variety of fatigue crack growth phenomena that occur in components of considerable importance to the functionality and reliability of complex engineering structures. In essence, the models are based on the McGill-Markov and Closure-Lognormal stochastic processes. Not only do these models have the capability of predicting the statistical dispersion of crack growth rates, they also, by incorporating the concept of crack closure, have the capability of transferring stochastic crack growth properties measured under ideal laboratory conditions to situations of industrial significance, such as those occurring under adverse loading and/or environmental conditions. The primary data required in order to be in a position to estimate the pertinent parameters of these stochastic models are obtained from a statistically significant number of replicate tests. In this paper, both the theory and the experimental technique are illustrated using a Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Finally, important structural integrity, reliability, availability and maintainability concepts are developed and illustrated.

Provan, James W.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Application of the Two-Step Filter to Process Ranging Measurements for Relative Navigation in an Elliptical Orbit

This estimator breaks a nonlinear estimation problem into a set of over determined 'first step' states which are linear in the observations and 'second step' states which are ultimately the states of interest. Linear estimation methods are applied to filter the observations and produce the optimal first step state estimate. The 'second step' states are obtained through iterative nonlinear parameter estimation considering the first step states as observations. It has been shown that this process exactly minimizes the least squares cost function for static problems and provides a better solution than the iterated extended Kalman filter (EKF) for dynamic problems. The two step filter is applied in this paper to process range and range rate measurements between the two spacecraft. Details of the application of the two step estimator to this problem will be given, highlighting the use of a test for ill-conditioned covariance estimates that can result from the first order covariance propagation. A comparison will be made between the performance of the two step filter and the IEKF.

Garrison, James L.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Summary of the Manufacture, Testing and Model Validation of a Full-Scale Radiator for Fission Surface Power Applications

A full-scale radiator for a lunar fission surface power application was manufactured by Material innovations, Inc., for the NASA Glenn Research Center. The radiator was designed to reject 6 kWt with an inlet water temperature of 400 K and a water mass flow rate of 0.5 kg/s. While not flight hardware, the radiator incorporated many potential design features and manufacturing techniques for future flight hardware. The radiator was tested at NASA Glenn Research Center for heat rejection performance. The results showed that the radiator design was capable of rejecting over 6 kWt when operating at the design conditions. The actual performance of the radiator as a function of operational manifolds, inlet water temperature and facility sink temperature was compared to the predictive model developed by NASA Glenn Research Center. The results showed excellent agreement with the model with the actual average face sheet temperature being within 1% of the predicted value. The results will be used in the design and production of NASA s next generation fission power heat rejection systems. The NASA Glenn Research Center s Technology Demonstration Unit will be the first project to take advantage of the newly developed manufacturing techniques and analytical models.

Ellis, David L.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Survivable Failure Data Recorders for Spacecraft

A spacecraft may be unable to communicate critical data associated with a serious or catastrophic failure. A brief report proposes a system, somewhat like a commercial aircraft "black box," for retrieving these data. A microspacecraft attached to the prime spacecraft would continually store recent critical data from that spacecraft. If either spacecraft detected certain serious conditions of the prime spacecraft, the microspacecraft would separate from the prime spacecraft and independently transmit the stored data to Earth. Supplemental data, acquired from sensors onboard the microspacecraft, could be added to this transmission. For example, the orientation and angular rates of the prime spacecraft immediately before separation as well as pictures taken of the prime spacecraft after separation could be included. Functional enhancements over aircraft black boxes include the separation from the prime vehicle (which gains independence from the fate of that vehicle), wireless transmission of data (making physical black box recovery unnecessary), and the optional acquisition of supplemental sensor data.

Carraway, John↗