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At least 1,369 records · Page 76

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DOE OSTI2022

Developing a Power Plant Suitability Model for the Energy Zones Mapping Tool

This report provides an example of designing, developing, and running a power plant suitability model in the Energy Zones Mapping Tool (EZMT), a public, web-based mapping tool with a large spatial database focused on energy infrastructure, energy resources, and related siting factors. The example focuses on natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants, which have several unique and interesting characteristics. NGCC plants typically provide peaking power to the electrical grid. Such plants can be started or stopped relatively quickly and are often used to supplement base load plants (such as nuclear or coal) during times of peak electrical consumption or to counterbalance lulls in variable power generation (such as wind or solar). Due to these and other factors, NGCC plants have been projected to increase in number under energy planning studies such as Hadley et al. The scope of the Hadley et. al. study is the Eastern Interconnection (EI), the electrical transmission grid serving much of the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. Results in the study are organized according to 22 Multi-region National—North American Electricity and Environment Model (NEEM) regions within the EI. NGCC plants usually have lower water requirements than other thermoelectric power plants they may replace; therefore, they are expected to have an interesting role in reducing the overall water requirements of energy generation.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

NASA NTRS2014

Treadmill Exercise with Increased Body Loading Enhances Post Flight Functional Performance

The goals of the Functional Task Test (FTT) study were to determine the effects of space flight on functional tests that are representative of high priority exploration mission tasks and to identify the key underlying physiological factors that contribute to decrements in performance. Ultimately this information will be used to assess performance risks and inform the design of countermeasures for exploration class missions. We have previously shown that for Shuttle, ISS and bed rest subjects functional tasks requiring a greater demand for dynamic control of postural equilibrium (i.e. fall recovery, seat egress/obstacle avoidance during walking, object translation, jump down) showed the greatest decrement in performance. Functional tests with reduced requirements for postural stability (i.e. hatch opening, ladder climb, manual manipulation of objects and tool use) showed little reduction in performance. These changes in functional performance were paralleled by similar decrements in sensorimotor tests designed to specifically assess postural equilibrium and dynamic gait control. The bed rest analog allows us to investigate the impact of axial body unloading in isolation on both functional tasks and on the underlying physiological factors that lead to decrements in performance and then compare them with the results obtained in our space flight study. These results indicate that body support unloading experienced during space flight plays a central role in postflight alteration of functional task performance. Given the importance of body-support loading we set out to determine if there is a relationship between the load experienced during inflight treadmill exercise (produced by a harness and bungee system) and postflight functional performance. ISS crewmembers (n=13) were tested using the FTT protocol before and after 6 months in space. Crewmembers were tested three times before flight, and on 1, 6, and 30 days after landing. To determine how differences in body-support loading experienced during inflight treadmill exercise impacts postflight functional performance, the loading history for each subject during inflight treadmill (T2) exercise was correlated with postflight measures of performance. Crewmembers who walked on the treadmill with higher pull-down loads had less decrement in postflight postural stability and dynamic locomotor control than those subjects who exercised with lighter loads. These data point to the importance of providing significant body loading during inflight treadmill exercise. This and the addition of specific balance training may further mitigate decrements in critical mission tasks that require dynamic postural stability and mobility. Inflight treadmill exercise provides a multi-disciplinary platform to provide sensorimotor, aerobic and bone mechanical stimuli benefits. Forward work will focus on the development of an inflight training system that will integrate aerobic, resistive and balance training modalities into a single interdisciplinary countermeasure system for exploration class missions.

Bloomberg, J. J.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Variational Self-Consistent Theory for Beam-Loaded Cavities

A new variational theory is presented for beam loading in microwave cavities. The beam{field interaction is formulated as a dynamical interaction whose stationarity according to Hamilton’s principle will naturally lead to steady-state solutions that indicate how a cavity’s resonant frequency, Q and optimal coupling coefficient will detune as a result of the beam loading. A driven cavity Lagrangian is derived from first principles, including the effects of cavity wall losses, input power and beam interaction. The general formulation is applied to a typical klystron input cavity to predict the appropriate detuning parameters required to maximize the gain (or modulation depth) in the average Lorentz factor boost, (Δ γ). Numerical examples are presented, showing agreement with the general detuning trends previously observed in the literature. The developed formulation carries several advantages for beam-loaded cavity structures. It provides a self-consistent model for the dynamical (nonlinear) beam{field interaction, a procedure for maximizing gain under beam-loading conditions, and a useful set of parameters to guide cavity-shape optimization during the design of beam-loaded systems. Enhanced clarity of the physical picture underlying the problem seems to be gained using this approach, allowing straightforward inclusion or exclusion of different field configurations in the calculation and expressing the final results in terms of measurable quantities. Two field configurations are discussed for the klystron input cavity, using finite magnetic confinement or no confinement at all. Formulating the problem in a language that is directly accessible to the powerful techniques found in Hamiltonian dynamics and canonical transformations may potentially carry an additional advantage in terms of analytical computational gains, under suitable conditions

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

NASA NTRS2006

The Load Capability of Piezoelectric Single Crystal Actuators

Piezoelectric lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) single crystal is one of the most promising materials for electromechanical device applications due to its high electrical field induced strain and high electromechanical coupling factor. PMN-PT single crystal-based multilayer stack actuators and multilayer stack-based flextensional actuators have exhibited high stroke and high displacement-voltage ratios. The actuation capabilities of these two actuators were evaluated using a newly developed method based upon a laser vibrometer system under various loading conditions. The measured displacements as a function of mechanical loads at different driving voltages indicate that the displacement response of the actuators is approximately constant under broad ranges of mechanical load. The load capabilities of these PMN-PT single crystal-based actuators and the advantages of the capability for applications will be discussed.

Xu, Tian-Bing↗

NASA NTRS2007

The Load Capability of Piezoelectric Single Crystal Actuators

Xu, Tian-Bing↗

NASA NTRS1992

An evaluation of the Iosipescu specimen for composite materials shear property measurement

A detailed evaluation of the suitability of the Iosipescu specimen tested in the modified Wyoming fixture is presented. A linear finite element model of the specimen is used to assess the uniformity of the shear stress field in the vicinity of the notch, and demonstrate the effect of the nonuniform stress field upon strain gage measurements used for the determination of composite shear moduli. Based upon test results from graphite-epoxy laminates, the proximity of the load introduction point to the test section and the material orthotropy greatly influence the individual gage readings, however, shear modulus determination is not significantly affected by the lack of pure shear. Correction factors are needed to allow for the nonuniformity of the strain field and the use of the average shear stress in the shear modulus evaluation. The correction factors are determined for the region occupied by the strain gage rosette. A comparison of the strain gage readings from one surface of a specimen with corresponding data from moire interferometry on the opposite face documented an extreme sensitivity of some fiber orientations to eccentric loading which induced twisting and spurious shear stress-strain curves. The discovery of specimen twisting explains the apparently inconsistent shear property data found in the literature. Recommendations for improving the reliability and accuracy of the shear modulus values are made, and the implications for shear strength measurement discussed.

Morton, J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Probabilistic evaluation of uncertainties and risks in aerospace components

This paper summarizes a methodology developed at NASA Lewis Research Center which computationally simulates the structural, material, and load uncertainties associated with Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) components. The methodology was applied to evaluate the scatter in static, buckling, dynamic, fatigue, and damage behavior of the SSME turbo pump blade. Also calculated are the probability densities of typical critical blade responses, such as effective stress, natural frequency, damage initiation, most probable damage path, etc. Risk assessments were performed for different failure modes, and the effect of material degradation on the fatigue and damage behaviors of a blade were calculated using a multi-factor interaction equation. Failure probabilities for different fatigue cycles were computed and the uncertainties associated with damage initiation and damage propagation due to different load cycle were quantified. Evaluations on the effects of mistuned blades on a rotor were made; uncertainties in the excitation frequency were found to significantly amplify the blade responses of a mistuned rotor. The effects of the number of blades on a rotor were studied. The autocorrelation function of displacements and the probability density function of the first passage time for deterministic and random barriers for structures subjected to random processes also were computed. A brief discussion was included on the future direction of probabilistic structural analysis.

Shah, A. R.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Recovery from exercise at varying work loads - Time course of responses of heart rate and systolic intervals

The time course of the recovery period was characterized by noninvasive measurements after 4 minute bicycle exercise at 3 separate work loads in volunteers with normal peak responses. Most responses started immediately to return toward resting control values. Left ventricular ejection time and stroke volume change are discussed. Changes in pre-ejection period were determined by changes in isovolume contraction time, and factors affecting the degree and rate of return are considered. The rates of change in the ejection time index and in the ratio pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time were virtually independent of load throughout most of recovery.

Nandi, P. S.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Resilience of terrestrial and aquatic fauna to historical and future wildfire regimes in western North America

Wildfires in many western North American forests are becoming more frequent, larger, and severe, with changed seasonal patterns. In response, coniferous forest ecosystems will transition toward dominance by fire-adapted hardwoods, shrubs, meadows, and grasslands, which may benefit some faunal communities, but not others. We describe factors that limit and promote faunal resilience to shifting wildfire regimes for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We highlight the potential value of interspersed nonforest patches to terrestrial wildlife. Similarly, we review watershed thresholds and factors that control the resilience of aquatic ecosystems to wildfire, mediated by thermal changes and chemical, debris, and sediment loadings. We present a 2-dimensional life history framework to describe temporal and spatial life history traits that species use to resist wildfire effects or to recover after wildfire disturbance at a metapopulation scale. The role of fire refuge is explored for metapopulations of species. In aquatic systems, recovery of assemblages postfire may be faster for smaller fires where unburned tributary basins or instream structures provide refuge from debris and sediment flows. We envision that more-frequent, lower-severity fires will favor opportunistic species and that less-frequent high-severity fires will favor better competitors. Along the spatial dimension, we hypothesize that fire regimes that are predictable and generate burned patches in close proximity to refuge will favor species that move to refuges and later recolonize, whereas fire regimes that tend to generate less-severely burned patches may favor species that shelter in place. Looking beyond the trees to forest fauna, we consider mitigation options to enhance resilience and buy time for species facing a no-analog future.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Influence of Photovoltaic Shading on Rooftop Heat Transfer, Building Energy Loads, and Photovoltaic Power Output

Photovoltaic (PV) modules on building rooftops provide shade from summer heating, leading to a reduction in cooling load during hot seasons. However, PV shading also reduces passive solar heating during winter months, leading to an increase in the building heating load during cold seasons. In this study, the heat transfer performance of an enclosure formed by adjacent PV modules is analyzed for three locations in the United States, comparing the daily heat flux through rooftops for the case of a PV-shaded rooftop as well as an unshaded roof. Several result metrics are developed as part of this work, including the saved energy load (SEL), or the energy conserved by adding PV-shading to the rooftop, and the additional energy load (AEL), or the supplemental building energy required to replace shaded solar heating. Lastly, this work calculates the utility factor, being the ratio of SEL and PV power output to AEL as a metric of PV effectiveness. SELs are 5.2, 6.2, and 11.7 kWh/m 2 · year for Dayton, Boise, and Phoenix, respectively, while the AELs for the same locations are 1.6, 1.5, and 2.1 kWh/m 2 · year. The utility factors for the same three locations are 61, 71, and 79. In general, locations with hot, non-cloudy summers and clear skies in winter see the largest utility factor. Further, it is shown that PV shading can conserve building energy during the winter months by preventing radiative losses to cold winter skies.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS1972

Analysis of fatigue crack propagation

The correlation between fatigue crack propagation and stress intensity factor is analyzed. When determining fatigue crack propagation rate, a crack increment, delta a, and its corresponding increment in load cycles, delta N, are measured. Fatigue crack propagation must be caused by a shear and/or a normal separation mode. Both of these two processes are discrete if one looks at the atomic level. If the average deformation and fracture properties over the crack increments, delta a, can be considered as homogeneous, if the characteristic discrete lengths of sigma a, if the plastic zone size is small, and if a plate is thick enough to insure a plane strain case, da/dN is proportional to delta K squared. Any deviation of empirical data from this relation must be caused by the fact that one or more of these conditions are not satisfied. The effects of plate thickness and material inhomogeneity are discussed in detail. A shear separation mode of fatigue crack propagation is described and is used to illustrate the effects of material inhomogeneity.

Liu, H. W.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Evaluation of beryllium for space shuttle components

Application of beryllium to specific full-scale space shuttle structural components and assemblies was studied. Material evaluations were conducted to check the mechanical properties of as-received material to gain design information on characteristics needed for the material in the space shuttle environment, and to obtain data needed for evaluating component and panel tests. Four beryllium structural assemblies were analyzed and designed. Selected components of these assemblies, representing areas of critical loading or design/process uncertainty, were designed and tested, and two panel assemblies were fabricated. Trends in cost and weight factors were determined by progressive estimation at key points of preliminary design, final design, and fabrication to aid in a cost/weight evaluation of the use of beryllium.

Trapp, A. E.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Lifetimes of fiber composites under sustained tensile loading

A description is presented of the test techniques which have been used to apply sustained uniaxial tensile loading to fiber/epoxy composites. The fiber types used include S-glass, aramid, graphite, and beryllium wire. The applied load vs lifetime data for four composite materials are presented in graphs. Attention is given to a statistical analysis of data, a performance comparison of various composites, the age effect on the strength of composites, the applicability of the lifetime data to complex composites, and aspects of accelerated test method development. It is found that the lifetime of a composite under a sustained load varies widely. Depending on the composite system, the minimum life typically differs from the maximum life by a factor of 100 to 1000. It is in this connection recommended that a use of average life data should be avoided in serious design calculations.

Chiao, T. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Crack displacements for J/I/ testing with compact specimens

The suggestion is made that the standard compact specimen (with opening displacement measured at the crack mouth) may be entirely suitable for J-integral determinations if a very simple conversion factor is used. Experimental determination of J-integral values requires the measurement of displacements at the points of load application. For the compact specimen this is a difficult task. On the basis of studies reported by Newman (1979) and Fisher and Buzzard (1980), it is suggested that for any J-based test the standard compact specimen can be used. A very good approximation to the load point displacement (within 3.4 percent) can be obtained by measuring the crack mouth displacement and multiplying by 0.773.

Orange, T. W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Growth and stability of interacting surface flaws of arbitrary shape

Growth regimes of interacting surface flaws of arbitrary shape are analyzed with the aid of the body force method, and the stability of the process is assessed on the basis of the variation of the load during the growth. It is shown that irregularly shaped flaws are often associated with very high stress intensity factors locally, which tend to change as the flaws grow into more regular shapes. Several examples of various flaw shapes are worked out for illustration, and it is shown that a simple formula seems to provide an accurate estimate of the maximum stress intensity factor for surface flaws of various shapes, which are not very slender. The formula involves the overall maximum tension, as well as the area of the projection of the flaw on the plane normal to the maximum tension.

Murakami, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Semi-empirical crack tip analysis

Experimentally observed crack opening displacements are employed as the solution of the multiple crack interaction problem. Then the near and far fields are reconstructed analytically by means of the double layer potential technqiue. Evaluation of the effective stress intensity factor resulting from the interaction of the main crack and its surrounding crazes in addition to the remotely applied load is presented as an illustrative example. It is shown that crazing (as well as microcracking) may constitute an alternative mechanism to Dugdale-Berenblatt models responsible for the cancellation of the singularity at the crack tip.

Chudnovsky, A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Analysis of elastically tailored viscoelastic damping member

For more than two decades, viscoelastic materials have been commonly used as a passive damping source in a variety of structures because of their high material loss factors. In most of the applications, viscoelastic materials are used either in series with or parallel to the structural load path. The latter is also known as the constrained-layer damping treatment. The advantage of the constrained-layer damping treatment is that it can be incorporated without loss in structural integrity, namely, stiffness and strength. However, the disadvantages are that: (1) it is not the most effective use of the viscoelastic material when compared with the series-type application, and (2) weight penalty from the stiff constraining layer requirement can be excessive. To overcome the disadvantages of the constrained-layer damping treatment, a new approach for using viscoelastic material in axial-type structural components, e.g., truss members, was studied in this investigation.

Chen, G.-S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Space station dynamics

Structural dynamic characteristics and responses of the Space Station due to the natural and induced environment are discussed. Problems that are peculiar to the Space Station are also discussed. These factors lead to an overall acceleration environment that users may expect. This acceleration environment can be considered as a loading, as well as a disturbance environment.

Berka, Reg↗