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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,369 records · Page 76
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Engineering specification and system design for CAD/CAM of custom shoes. Phase 5: UMC involvement (January 1, 1989 - June 30, 1989)

The CAD/CAM of custom shoes is discussed. The solid object for machining is represented by a wireframe model with its nodes or vertices specified systematically in a grid pattern covering its entire length (point-to-point configuration). Two sets of data from CENCIT and CYBERWARE were used for machining purposes. It was found that the indexing technique (turning the stock by a small angle then moving the tool on a longitudinal path along the foot) yields the best result in terms of ease of programming, savings in wear and tear of the machine and cutting tools, and resolution of fine surface details. The work done using the LASTMOD last design system results in a shoe last specified by a number of congruent surface patches of different sizes. This data format was converted into a form amenable to the machine tool. It involves a series of sorting algorithms and interpolation algorithms to provide the grid pattern that the machine tool needs as was the case in the point to point configuration discussed above. This report also contains an in-depth treatment of the design and production technique of an integrated sole to complement the task of design and manufacture of the shoe last. Clinical data and essential production parameters are discussed. Examples of soles made through this process are given.

Bao, Han P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Artificial neural network implementation of a near-ideal error prediction controller

A theory has been developed at the University of Virginia which explains the effects of including an ideal predictor in the forward loop of a linear error-sampled system. It has been shown that the presence of this ideal predictor tends to stabilize the class of systems considered. A prediction controller is merely a system which anticipates a signal or part of a signal before it actually occurs. It is understood that an exact prediction controller is physically unrealizable. However, in systems where the input tends to be repetitive or limited, (i.e., not random) near ideal prediction is possible. In order for the controller to act as a stability compensator, the predictor must be designed in a way that allows it to learn the expected error response of the system. In this way, an unstable system will become stable by including the predicted error in the system transfer function. Previous and current prediction controller include pattern recognition developments and fast-time simulation which are applicable to the analysis of linear sampled data type systems. The use of pattern recognition techniques, along with a template matching scheme, has been proposed as one realizable type of near-ideal prediction. Since many, if not most, systems are repeatedly subjected to similar inputs, it was proposed that an adaptive mechanism be used to 'learn' the correct predicted error response. Once the system has learned the response of all the expected inputs, it is necessary only to recognize the type of input with a template matching mechanism and then to use the correct predicted error to drive the system. Suggested here is an alternate approach to the realization of a near-ideal error prediction controller, one designed using Neural Networks. Neural Networks are good at recognizing patterns such as system responses, and the back-propagation architecture makes use of a template matching scheme. In using this type of error prediction, it is assumed that the system error responses be known for a particular input and modeled plant. These responses are used in the error prediction controller. An analysis was done on the general dynamic behavior that results from including a digital error predictor in a control loop and these were compared to those including the near-ideal Neural Network error predictor. This analysis was done for a second and third order system.

Mcvey, Eugene S.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Modulating Self-Assembly of DNA Crystals with Rationally Designed Agents

This article reports a strategy for controlling the crystallization kinetics and improving the quality of engineered self-assembled 3D DNA crystals. Growing large, high-quality biomacromolecule crystals is critically important for determining the 3D structures of biomacromolecules. It often presents a great challenge to structural biologists. Herein, we introduce a rationally designed agent to modulate the crystallization process. Under such conditions, fewer, but larger, crystals that yield diffraction patterns of modestly higher resolution are produced compared with the crystals from conditions without the modulating agent. We attribute the improvement to a smaller number of nuclei and slow growth rate of crystallization. This strategy is expected to be generally applicable for crystallization of other biomacromolecules.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Differential degradation patterns of photovoltaic backsheets at the array level

There are relatively few field studies on the degradation of non-fluoropolymer-based backsheets, and understanding their in-field behavior is critical for further development of such products. In this paper, backsheet degradation of modules with one of these new types of backsheets (polyethylene naphthalate (PEN)-based) was documented at a four-year old utility-scale array located in Maryland (USA). Visual inspection, colorimetry, glossimetry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed highly varied properties depending on module position within the array. Specifically, modules near the edge of the array and with higher mounting elevations underwent greater amounts of backsheet degradation, as indicated by yellowing and gloss-loss. The reason for these unique degradation patterns were differential backside exposure conditions, especially of ultraviolet light. This was strongly influenced by the array design, including array structural and environmental factors, such as module spacing and ground cover, respectively. Within the array, no clear link between backsheet degradation and module output or safety has been identified. However, such a relationship may be expected to become more pronounced with time, affecting system lifetime and ultimately the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Finally, the observed phenomena have implications for both backsheet product development and array design, especially for modules that utilize newer classes of non-fluoropolymer-based backsheets which are typically more susceptible to environmental degradation.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Discovery of chalcogenides structures and compositions using mixed fluxes

Advancements in many modern technologies rely on the continuous need for materials discovery. However, the design of synthesis routes leading to new and targeted solid-state materials requires understanding of reactivity patterns. Advances in synthesis science are necessary to increase efficiency and accelerate materials discovery. We present a highly effective methodology for the rational discovery of materials using high-temperature solutions or fluxes having tunable solubility. This methodology facilitates product selection by projecting the free-energy landscape into real synthetic variables: temperature and flux ratio. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique by synthesizing compounds in the chalcogenide system of A(Ba)-Cu-Q(O) (Q = S or Se; A = Na, K or Rb) using mixed AOH/AX (A = Li, Na, K or Rb; X = Cl or I) fluxes. We present 30 unreported compounds or compositions, including more than ten unique structural types, by systematically varying the temperature and flux ratios without requiring changing the proportions of starting materials. Additionally, we found that the structural dimensionality of the compounds decreases with increasing reactant solubility and temperature. This methodology serves as an effective general strategy for the rational discovery of inorganic solids.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Broadband asymmetric acoustic transmission by a plate with quasi-periodic surface ridges

In this paper, an acoustic system with broadband asymmetric transmission is designed and fabricated, which consists of a water-immersed aluminum plate engraved with quasi-periodically-patterned ridges on single surface. It demonstrates that when the acoustic waves are launched into the system from the structured side, they can couple into the Lamb modes in the plate efficiently and attain a high transmission; on the contrary, when the waves are incident from the opposite flat side, the coupling is weak, and the transmission is low. Superior to systems with periodic patterning, this quasi-periodically-patterned system has a broad working frequency range due to the collective contributions from the multiple diffractions specific to the structure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Rapid change of field line connectivity and reconnection in stochastic magnetic fields

Magnetic fields without a direction of continuous symmetry have the generic feature that neighboring field lines exponentiate away from each other and become stochastic, and hence the ideal constraint of preserving magnetic field line connectivity becomes exponentially sensitive to small deviations from ideal Ohm's law. The idea of breaking field line connectivity by stochasticity as a mechanism for fast reconnection is tested with numerical simulations based on reduced magnetohydrodynamics equations with a strong guide field line-tied to two perfectly conducting end plates. Starting from an ideally stable force-free equilibrium, the system is allowed to undergo resistive relaxation. Two distinct phases are found in the process of resistive relaxation. During the quasi-static phase, rapid change of field line connectivity and strong induced flow are found in regions of high field line exponentiation. However, although the field line connectivity of individual field lines can change rapidly, the overall pattern of field line mapping appears to deform gradually. From this perspective, field line exponentiation appears to cause enhanced diffusion rather than reconnection. In some cases, resistive quasi-static evolution can cause the ideally stable initial equilibrium to cross a stability threshold, leading to formation of intense current filaments and rapid change of field line mapping into a qualitatively different pattern. It is in this onset phase that the change of field line connectivity is more appropriately designated as magnetic reconnection. Our results show that rapid change of field line connectivity appears to be a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for fast reconnection.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

WE-G-9A-01: Radiation Oncology Outcomes Informatics

The construction of databases and support software to enable routine and systematic aggregation, analysis and reporting of patient outcomes data is emerging as an important area. “How have results for our patients been affected by the improvements we have made in our practice and in the technologies we use?” To answer this type of fundamental question about the overall pattern of efficacy observed, it is necessary to systematically gather and analyze data on all patients treated within a clinic. Clinical trials answer, in great depth and detail, questions about outcomes for the subsets of patients enrolled in a given trial. However, routine aggregation and analysis of key treatment parameter data and outcomes information for all patients is necessary to recognize emergent patterns that would be of interest from a public health or practice perspective and could better inform design of clinical trials or the evolution of best practice principals. To address these questions, Radiation Oncology outcomes databases need to be constructed to enable combination essential data from a broad group of data types including: diagnosis and staging, dose volume histogram metrics, patient reported outcomes, toxicity metrics, performance status, treatment plan parameters, demographics, DICOM data and demographics. Developing viable solutions to automate aggregation and analysis of this data requires multidisciplinary efforts to define nomenclatures, modify clinical processes and develop software and database tools requires detailed understanding of both clinical and technical issues. This session will cover the developing area of Radiation Oncology Outcomes Informatics. Learning Objectives: Audience will be able to speak to the technical requirements (software, database, web services) which must be considered in designing an outcomes database. Audience will be able to understand the content and the role of patient reported outcomes as compared to traditional toxicity measures. Audience will be understand approaches, clinical process changes, consensus building efforts and standardizations which must be addressed to succeed in a multi-disciplinary effort to aggregate data for all patients. Audience will be able to discuss technical and process issues related to pooling data among institutions in the context of collaborative studies among the presenting institutions.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-429: Feasibility Study On Three-Dimensional GRID Therapy in Conventional Linacs

Purpose: Two-dimensional GRID therapy, traditionally planned and delivered using a dedicated GRID block or MLC modulation, has shown clinical efficacy in treating bulky tumors. However, the large dose to normal tissues outside target can be limiting. We hypothesize that modulation in the third dimension will improve dose sparing of normal tissues, maximize the bystander effect within the target, and ultimately improve the therapy effectiveness. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of a three-dimensional GRID technique using conventional LINACs to achieve a 3D lattice of high dose volumes within a target. Methods: Datasets of patient’s having large tumor sizes were used to investigate the planning and delivering of 3D GRID using a Varian TrueBeam linac. Original patient contours of PTV are exported from a TPS to DICOManTX where 3D GRID targets are generated in programmable configurations. A structure of avoidance (SOA), i.e., PTV minus GRID targets, is also generated to facilitate inverse planning to achieve the desired pattern. The artificial structures were sent back to the TPS where an IMRT or VMAT plan is designed to deliver a desired high dose to GRID targets while minimizing the dose to the SOA as much as possible. Results: The programmable GRID target generator enables us to modify the target geometry to maximize the peak-to-valley ratio. Preliminary results show that plans based on spherical GRID targets achieve a higher peak-to-valley dose ratio compared with cylindrical targets. High dose spillage outside the target was eliminated. IMRT planning requires the number of beams to be larger than 16, while for VMAT the number of arcs should be at least 4 in order to achieve dosimetric goals. Conclusion: Planning and delivering 3D GRID therapy using conventional LINACs was shown to be feasible. More research and development are required before this new modality can be implemented clinically.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Perovskite nanowire–block copolymer composites with digitally programmable polarization anisotropy

One-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials with highly anisotropic optoelectronic properties are key components in energy harvesting, flexible electronics, and biomedical imaging devices. 3D patterning methods that precisely assemble nanowires with locally controlled composition and orientation would enable new optoelectronic device designs. As an exemplar, we have created and 3D-printed nanocomposite inks composed of brightly emitting colloidal cesium lead halide perovskite (CsPbX 3 , X = Cl, Br, and I) nanowires suspended in a polystyrene-polyisoprene-polystyrene block copolymer matrix. The nanowire alignment is defined by the programmed print path, resulting in optical nanocomposites that exhibit highly polarized absorption and emission properties. Several devices have been produced to highlight the versatility of this method, including optical storage, encryption, sensing, and full-color displays.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Interplay Between Climate and Urban Expansion on Building Energy Demand in Morocco

Understanding building energy demand is critical for addressing climate uncertainty challenges and ensuring sustainable urban growth. This study develops a building energy demand (BED) model to explore how climate variation and urban expansion affect residential and commercial space heating and cooling demands in Morocco for three scenarios, namely, 2005, 2018, and 2018 + 1.5 °C. The results show that coastal cities have lower heating and cooling needs due to the oceanic influence, while interior cities require significantly higher heating demand per-unit-floorspace. Between 2005 and 2018, urban growth increased total heating and cooling demand by 218.8 GWh, particularly in northern and coastal regions, despite per-unit-floorspace reductions in milder climates and improved building efficiency in 2018. Residential heating remains the dominant energy use, though commercial demand is significant in urban centers. Under the 2018 + 1.5 °C hypothetical scenario, heating demand across Morocco declines by 335.8 GWh compared to 2018, with urban areas amplifying this trend. Meanwhile, cooling demand increases slightly by 44.4 GWh, with major cities experiencing relative increases of up to 50%. These findings highlight a trade-off where reduced winter heating needs are partly offset by increased summer cooling demands in densely urbanized areas. In conclusion, the study identifies key urban hotspots for targeted interventions, emphasizing the need for energy-efficient building designs, climate-adaptive urban planning, and resilient energy management strategies to sustainably address shifting seasonal energy patterns.

Morocco↗
NASA NTRS1976

Effects of multi-element acoustic treatment on compressor inlet noise

An analytic and experimental study was conducted with the objective of developing both a basic understanding of axially segmented inlet acoustic treatment liners, and design procedures for enhancing the suppression of compressor inlet radiated noise. Anechoic chamber measurements demonstrated that the multielement treatment produced significantly more low frequency suppression than uniform treatment. Further, in-duct spinning mode patterns generated by the rotating vehicle were successfully measured and used as input to an analytical prediction procedure, providing significant improvement in inlet suppression predictions. The study indicated that phased inlet liners can be designed to provide increased noise suppression compared to uniform treatment.

Kraft, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Compressor blade setting angle accuracy study, volume 1

The aerodynamic test of a small, single stage, highly loaded, axial flow transonic compressor is covered. The stage was modified by fabricating a 24 blade rotor with mis-set blades in a repeating pattern - two degrees closed from nominal, two degrees open from nominal and nominal. The unit was instrumented to determine overall performance and average blade element data. High-response, dynamic pressure probes were installed to record pressure patterns at selected points in the flowpath. Testing was conducted at speeds from 70 to 94% of design equivalent speed with a conventional casing and also with circumferential grooves over the rotor tip. Testing indicated severe performance penalties were incurred as a result of the mis-set blading. Lower flow, pressure ratio, and efficiency were observed for the stage with or without casing treatment. Periodic pressure variations were detected at every location where high response pressure sensors were located and were directly related to blading geometry.

Holman, F. F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Trailing edge noise data with comparison to theory

The noise emission generated by the passage of a turbulent airstream over the trailing edge of a semiinfinite plate was measured over a large range of airstream velocity and plate geometry. The experiment was designed to validate trailing-edge noise theories. The results show that the peak of a radiation pattern moves from an upstream to a downstream direction as the velocity increases. The measured radiation pattern of the noise was in agreement with that predicted by a recent fundamental theory for leading- and trailing-edge noise. Although large changes in the character of the turbulent flow near the trailing edge effect the level and spectra of trailing-edge noise, the shape of the pattern is still accurately predicted by this theory.

Olsen, W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Aircraft turbofan noise

Turbofan noise generation and suppression in aircraft engines are reviewed. The chain of physical processes which connect unsteady flow interactions with fan blades to far field noise is addressed. Mechanism identification and description, duct propagation, radiation and acoustic suppression are discussed. The experimental technique of fan inflow static tests are discussed. Rotor blade surface pressure and wake velocity measurements aid in the determination of the types and strengths of the generation mechanisms. Approaches to predicting or measuring acoustic mode content, optimizing treatment impedance to maximize attenuation, translating impedance into porous wall structure and interpreting far field directivity patterns are illustrated by comparisons of analytical and experimental results. The interdependence of source and acoustic treatment design to minimize far field noise is emphasized. Area requiring further research are discussed and the relevance of aircraft turbofan results to quieting other turbomachinery installations is addressed.

Groeneweg, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Turbine Airfoil Deposition Models

Gas turbine failures associated with sea-salt ingestion and sulfur-containing fuel impurities have directed attention to alkali sulfate deposition and the associated hot corrosion of gas turbine (GT) blades under some GT operating conditions. These salt deposits form thin, molten films which undermine the protective metal oxide coating normally found on GT blades. The prediction of molten salt deposition, flow and oxide dissolution, and their effects on the lifetime of turbine blades are examined. Goals include rationalizing and helping to predict corrosion patterns on operational GT rotor blades and stators, and ultimately providing some of the tools required to design laboratory simulators and future corrosion-resistant high-performance engines. Necessary background developments are reviewed first, and then recent results and tentative conclusions are presented along with a brief account of the present research plans.

Rosner, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Aircraft turbofan noise

Turbofan noise generation and suppression in aircraft engines are reviewed. The chain of physical processes which connect unsteady flow interactions with fan blades to far field noise is addressed. Mechanism identification and description, duct propagation, radiation, and acoustic suppression are discussed. The experimental techniques of fan inflow static tests are discussed. Rotor blade surface pressure and wake velocity measurements aid in the determination of the types and strengths of the generation mechanisms. Approaches to predicting or measuring acoustic mode content, optimizing treatment impedance to maximize attenuation, translating impedance into porous wall structure, and interpreting far field directivity patterns are illustrated by comparisons of analytical and experimental results. The interdependence of source and acoustic treatment design to minimize far field noise is emphasized. Areas requiring further research are discussed, and the relevance of aircraft turbofan results to quieting other turbomachinery installation is addressed.

Groeneweg, J. F.↗