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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 127 records · Page 7

Hypervelocity impact on shielded plates

A ballistic limit equation for hypervelocity impact on thin plates is derived analytically. This equation applies to cases of impulsive impact on a plate that is protected by a multi-shock shield, and it is valid in the range of velocity above 6 km/s. Experimental tests were conducted at the NASA Johnson Space Center on square aluminum plates. Comparing the center deflections of these plates with the theoretical deflections of a rigid-plastic plate subjected to a blast load, one determines the dynamic yield strength of the plate material. The analysis is based on a theory for the expansion of the fragmented projectile and on a simple failure criterion. Curves are presented for the critical projectile radius versus the projectile velocity, and for the critical plate thickness versus the velocity. These curves are in good agreement with curves that have been generated empirically.

Smith, James P.↗

Investigation on the use of optimization techniques for helicopter airframe vibrations design studies

Results of the investigation of formal nonlinear programming-based numerical optimization techniques of helicopter airframe vibration reduction are summarized. The objective and constraint function and the sensitivity expressions used in the formulation of airframe vibration optimization problems are presented and discussed. Implementation of a new computational procedure based on MSC/NASTRAN and CONMIN in a computer program system called DYNOPT for optimizing airframes subject to strength, frequency, dynamic response, and dynamic stress constraints is described. An optimization methodology is proposed which is thought to provide a new way of applying formal optimization techniques during the various phases of the airframe design process. Numerical results obtained from the application of the DYNOPT optimization code to a helicopter airframe are discussed.

Sreekanta Murthy, T.↗

Marshall Space Flight Center Test Capabilities

The Test Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has over 50 facilities across 400+ acres inside a secure, fenced facility. The entire Center is located inside the boundaries of Redstone Arsenal, a 40,000 acre military reservation. About 150 Government and 250 contractor personnel operate facilities capable of all types of propulsion and structural testing, from small components to engine systems and structural strength, structural dynamic and environmental testing. We have tremendous engineering expertise in research, evaluation, analysis, design and development, and test of space transportation systems, subsystems, and components.

Hamilton, Jeffrey T.↗

Structural Safety of a Hubble Space Telescope Science Instrument

This paper gives an overview of safety requirements related to structural design and verificationof payloads to be launched and/or retrieved by the Space Shuttle. To demonstrate the generalapproach used to implement these requirements in the development of a typical Shuttle payload, theWide Field/Planetary Camera II, a second generation science instrument currently being developed bythe Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the Hubble Space Telescope is used as an example. Inaddition to verification of strength and dynamic characteristics, special emphasis is placed upon thefracture control implementation process, including parts classification and fracture controlacceptability.

Lou, M. C.↗

Megadroughts in Southwestern North America in ECHO-G Millennial Simulations and Their Comparison to Proxy Drought Reconstructions

Simulated hydroclimate variability in millennium-length forced transient and control simulations from the ECHAM and the global Hamburg Ocean Primitive Equation (ECHO-G) coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) is analyzed and compared to 1000 years of reconstructed Palmer drought severity index (PDSI) variability from the North American Drought Atlas (NADA). The ability of the model to simulate megadroughts in the North American southwest is evaluated. (NASW: 25deg42.5degN, 125deg-105degW). Megadroughts in the ECHO-G AOGCM are found to be similar in duration and magnitude to those estimated from the NADA. The droughts in the forced simulation are not, however, temporally synchronous with those in the paleoclimate record, nor are there significant differences between the drought features simulated in the forced and control runs. These results indicate that model-simulated megadroughts can result from internal variability of the modeled climate system rather than as a response to changes in exogenous forcings. Although the ECHO-G AOGCM is capable of simulating megadroughts through persistent La Nina-like conditions in the tropical Pacific, other mechanisms can produce similarly extreme NASW moisture anomalies in the model. In particular, the lack of low-frequency coherence between NASW soil moisture and simulated modes of climate variability like the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, Pacific decadal oscillation, and Atlantic multidecadal oscillation during identified drought periods suggests that stochastic atmospheric variability can contribute significantly to the occurrence of simulated megadroughts in the NASW. These findings indicate that either an expanded paradigm is needed to understand multidecadal hydroclimate variability in the NASW or AOGCMs may incorrectly simulate the strength and/or dynamics of the connection between NASW hydroclimate variability and the tropical Pacific.

variability↗

Undue Conservatisim in Structural Designs

Assuming that dynamic (transient/vibratory) loads are static in the design of structures is a long-standing engineering practice. The assumption is conservative for hardware that will have limited exposure to the specified dynamic environment and fatigue is not a concern. This is the case for most space flight hardware. Once out of the Earth’s atmosphere, significant vibrations are non-existent for most hardware and vibration cycles are limited. Mass is, and has always been, a concern with respect to flight hardware design. How much unnecessary mass due to the subject assumption may be in structural designs was questioned and numerous tests have been performed to qualitatively address that. Tests have been performed on simple aluminum beams, beams with bolted joints and beams with welded joints. Results of those tests are reported in this paper. The objective of these efforts was to demonstrate the order of magnitude of conservatism associated with this engineering process via comparing static to dynamic tests and the longer term endgame is to develop a new or modified quick turnaround structural design process that circumvents assuming dynamic loads are static and results in lighter structural designs. Test results qualitatively demonstrate notable conservatism. Activities to devise the new method are underway.

conservative loads↗

Advancement of Commercial Intumescent Expanding Foams for Deactivation and Decommissioning in the Nuclear Sector - 20198

Florida International University (FIU), in collaboration with The Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM), Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), and sites across the Savannah River complex, have identified an operational requirement for a fixative technology that is intended to immobilize and/or isolate residual contamination within a 3-dimensional space. Fixation of radiological contamination can reduce worker risk and mitigate potentially hazardous conditions, however nearly every marketed contamination fixative has been found to be flammable; a significant concern in radiological facilities. Coupled with this, industry fixatives are normally used as a thin coating which can present problems when attempting to stabilize irregular geometry or areas that are difficult to access whilst ensuring full coverage. The technical evaluation and advancement of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) polyurethane foams has yielded a down-selected candidate that shows potential in meeting the requirements to support deactivation and decommissioning activities. Several performance criteria have been established and tested to progress the technology readiness level towards an active field demonstration (TRL-7). Such criteria include: mechanical failure limits, adhesive and cohesive properties, thermal/fire resilience, determining thermal behavior, ability to immobilize contamination, and a means of non-destructive evaluation of applications. The test scenario examined was targeted towards an application for decommissioning nuclear pipework, in which the down-selected polyurethane foam would act as a barrier to segregate pipework and mitigate the potential for release during cutting, packaging, and storage operations. Testing carried out at SRNL included: mechanical evaluation of tensile, compressive, and adhesion strength by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). FIU examined the foam's fixative properties by utilizing phosphorescent europium-dysprosium doped strontium aluminate powder to investigating the extent to which contamination can be immobilized. FIU has also exploited previous successes in the field of intumescent technologies to assess the down-selected foam's tolerance to an extreme fire scenario, while maintaining the ability to effectively mitigate a contamination release. Parallel to this, extensive thermal investigations were carried out to determine the upper boundary of anticipated heat generation during the curing process as heat generation has the potential to compromise rubber parts of contaminated enclosures. These investigations subsequently yielded a promising method for a non-destructive application evaluation by means of infrared thermography. Utilizing the high sensitivity of modern IR cameras, coupled with the heat generated during the curing process of the polyurethane foam, FIU has been exploring the concept of monitoring the external pipe surface for indications of an irregular or abnormal application, thus informing operational decision making. The testing carried out utilized several current 'best fit' ASTM standards, which serve as helpful guidelines for testing, however, a precise definition of the operational parameters and requirements is still necessary. With continued collaboration with SRNL, FIU aims refine said definitions and develop new standards by which this, and other decommissioning technologies, can be accredited by relevant standards based testing. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Elucidating the Influence of Metal Surface Composition on Organic Adsorbate Binding Using Active Particle Dynamics

The adsorption strengths of organic compounds on metal surfaces are sensitive to the metal composition, and they play a central role in many catalytic reactions, helping to control the coverage of the reactant and altering the overall reaction rate. While adsorption energies are straightforward to measure and calculate in vacuum and gas-phase environments, adsorption energetics can be dramatically altered by the presence of solvent in liquid-phase reactions. However, the effects of metal composition on binding strengths in a liquid environment are less well understood, primarily due to the difficulty of accurate in situ measurements of organic binding on metal surfaces in the liquid phase. Here, we utilize the motion of active particles in water to probe the adsorption energies of an organic adsorbate (furfural) on a range of metal surfaces (pure Pd, pure Pt, and four PdAu alloy compositions) to elucidate the effect of metal composition. Janus particles with catalytic caps of particular metal compositions all exhibited active motion resulting from consumption of H 2 O 2 ; adsorbate binding was inferred through the decrease in the velocity of active motion and was modeled by a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The measured adsorption affinities were used to extract the adsorption enthalpy of furfural on the different metals. The Pd surface was found to bind furfural more strongly than the Pt surface by some 10 kJ/mol. Furthermore, the adsorption of furfural on the alloys was found to increase monotonically in magnitude with Pd content. As a result, the data reported herein aid the development of accurate understanding of organic adsorption in the presence of solvent and the role of the metal surface in tuning adsorption strengths to optimize catalytic processes in the liquid phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Rapid tempering to enhance dynamic performance of high and ultra-high strength steels

This study employed rapid, short-time duration (1 s) tempering to improve the dynamic performance of high-strength steel (HSS) and ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS), compared to quenched and conventionally (1800 s) tempered microstructures. Rapid tempering significantly improved the Charpy toughness of both steels compared to the conventionally tempered condition at an equivalent tempering parameter (TP) or hardness level. For conventionally tempered conditions, tempered martensite embrittlement was observed within the tempering temperature range of 200–400 °C, whereas rapid tempering exhibited increased Charpy toughness with increasing tempering temperature across all tempering conditions. Dynamic compression experiments indicated that rapid tempering led to improved ductility compared to the conventionally tempered condition at an equivalent TP. This work shows that the same rapid tempering strategy used for HSS is directly transferable to a higher-carbon UHSS and provides the first systematic evidence of improved strength-ductility combinations and cracking resistance under dynamic compression, supported by Kolsky bar experiments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Molecular dynamics study on interface formation and bond strength of impact-welded Mg-steel joints

It was recently demonstrated that the vaporizing foil actuator welding (VFAW) method can directly join immiscible magnesium and steel alloys without coating or a third chemical element based intermetallic compound layer. The VFAW Mg/steel joint exhibits a mixed interface layer of up to 200μm thickness consisting of Mg matrix and Fe particles. Computer simulations have suggested the formation of the interlayer is from the high-velocity frictional shearing between the Mg/steel substrates during the oblique impact in the VFAW process. This paper investigates the formation of Mg-Fe interlayer under VFAW condition with different shearing velocities using molecular dynamics (MD) model, and studies the bonding strength under different scenarios. Finally, the results elucidate the critical role of shearing velocity and surface roughness in achieving Mg/Fe joint.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Inference of strength and phase transition kinetics in dynamically-compressed tin

Dynamic compression experiments in condensed matter are of interest in part because they provide opportunities to examine material response under extreme conditions; however, the inference of material behavior from dynamic experiments is challenging in the presence of phase transitions exhibiting kinetic processes. Demonstrating an approach to quantitative interpretation of such dynamic experiments, here we present a Bayesian model calibration of strength and phase transformation parameters to data drawn from pulsed power and gas gun shot experiments. The posterior predictions of the Bayesian model capture the experimental measurements and account for the various uncertainties in the experimental configurations. This holistic approach to model calibration utilizing multiple types of experimental data identifies important cross correlations among kinetics, strength, and the phase boundary. Improved insight into potential sources of current model form error is provided by comparing the differences between calibrations against different subsets of the experimental data.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Computational Nanomechanics of Carbon Nanotubes and Composites

Nanomechanics of individual carbon and boron-nitride nanotubes and their application as reinforcing fibers in polymer composites has been reviewed with interplay of theoretical modeling, computer simulations and experimental observations. The emphasis in this work is on elucidating the multi-length scales of the problems involved, and of different simulation techniques that are needed to address specific characteristics of individual nanotubes and nanotube polymer-matrix interfaces. Classical molecular dynamics simulations are shown to be sufficient to describe the generic behavior such as strength and stiffness modulus but are inadequate to describe elastic limit and nature of plastic buckling at large strength. Quantum molecular dynamics simulations are shown to bring out explicit atomic nature dependent behavior of these nanoscale materials objects that are not accessible either via continuum mechanics based descriptions or through classical molecular dynamics based simulations. As examples, we discus local plastic collapse of carbon nanotubes under axial compression and anisotropic plastic buckling of boron-nitride nanotubes. Dependence of the yield strain on the strain rate is addressed through temperature dependent simulations, a transition-state-theory based model of the strain as a function of strain rate and simulation temperature is presented, and in all cases extensive comparisons are made with experimental observations. Mechanical properties of nanotube-polymer composite materials are simulated with diverse nanotube-polymer interface structures (with van der Waals interaction). The atomistic mechanisms of the interface toughening for optimal load transfer through recycling, high-thermal expansion and diffusion coefficient composite formation above glass transition temperature, and enhancement of Young's modulus on addition of nanotubes to polymer are discussed and compared with experimental observations.

Srivastava, Deepak↗

Strong Reduction in Amplitude of the Interfacial Segmental Dynamics in Polymer Nanocomposites

Despite the wide use of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) in various applications, our understanding of the microscopic parameters controlling their macroscopic properties remains limited. In this study, we examine the dielectric strength of segmental dynamics, Δε IL (T) in the interfacial polymer layer surrounding the nanoparticles in PNCs. The presented analysis reveals a significant drop in Δε IL (T) and its anomalous temperature dependence in the polymer layer adsorbed to nanoparticles. The drop in Δε IL (T) was observed in all samples regardless of whether segmental relaxation time in the interfacial layer was slower or faster than in the bulk polymer, excluding interpretation of the “dead” layer. We ascribe the observed decrease in the dielectric strength to the restricted amplitude of segmental relaxation in the interfacial/adsorbed layer. Our results provide a new perspective on discussion of dynamics in the interfacial layer in PNCs and thin polymer films, demonstrating that not only segmental relaxation time but also its amplitude can be strongly affected by the interface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermal Fatigue and Fracture Behavior of Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coatings

Thermal fatigue and fracture behavior of plasma-sprayed ceramic thermal barrier coatings has been investigated under high heat flux and thermal cyclic conditions. The coating crack propagation is studied under laser heat flux cyclic thermal loading, and is correlated with dynamic fatigue and strength test results. The coating stress response and inelasticity, fatigue and creep interactions, and interface damage mechanisms during dynamic thermal fatigue processes are emphasized.

Zhu, Dong-Ming↗

Dynamic Breaking Tests of Airplane Parts

The static stresses of airplane parts, the magnitude of which can be determined with the aid of static load assumptions, are mostly superposed by dynamic stresses, the magnitude of which has been but little explored. The object of the present investigation is to show how the strength of airplane parts can best be tested with respect to dynamic stresses with and without superposed static loading, and to what extent the dynamic strength of the parts depends on their structural design. Experimental apparatus and evaluation methods were developed and tried for the execution of vibration-strength tests with entire structural parts both with and without superposed static loading. Altogether ten metal spars and spar pieces and two wooden spars were subjected to vibration breaking tests.

Hertel, Heinrich↗

Salt matters: How ionic strength and electrolytes impact redox polymer reactivity and dynamics for energy storage

As the global demand for sustainable energy grows, redox-active polymers (RAPs) have emerged as promising materials for batteries due to their advantages in stability, ease of preparation, and low-cost processability. Despite factors traditionally known to impact polymer dynamics (e.g., temperature, viscosity, and structure), we posit that investigating the effect of ionic strength and/or supporting electrolyte types on the electrochemical performance of RAP systems is crucial, both in aqueous and nonaqueous systems. Here, we first highlight recent findings on RAP-electrolyte interactions, elucidating how their polyelectrolyte nature determines their redox activity. Then, we focus on strategies to enhance RAP performance for energy storage through ionic strength optimization and tailored electrolyte composition. These insights into the modulation of RAP reactivity provide a foundation for improving battery performance in both flow and stationary configurations, thus facilitating progress toward next-generation energy storage solutions.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗