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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 1,531 records · Page 85

The simulation of coherent structures in a laminar boundary layer

Coherent structures in turbulent shear flows were studied extensively by several techniques, including the VITA technique which selects rapidly accelerating or decelerating regions in the flow. The evolution of a localized disturbance in a laminar boundary layer shows strong similarity to the evolution of coherent structures in a turbulent-wall bounded flow. Starting from a liftup-sweep motion, a strong shear layer develops which shares many of the features seen in conditionally-sampled turbulent velocity fields. The structure of the shear layer, Reynolds stress distribution, and wall pressure footprint are qualitatively the same, indicating that the dynamics responsible for the structure's evolution are simple mechanisms dependent only on the presence of a high mean shear and a wall and independent of the effects of local random fluctuations and outer flow effects. As the disturbance progressed, the development of streak-like-high- and low-speed regions associated with the three-dimensionality.

Breuer, Kenny↗

Core materials development for the fuel cycle R&D program

The Fuel Cycle Research and Development program is investigating methods of burning minor actinides in a transmutation fuel. One of the challenges of achieving this goal is to develop fuels capable of reaching extreme burnup levels (e.g. 40%). To achieve such high burnup levels’ fast reactor core materials (cladding and duct) must be able to withstand very high doses (>300 dpa design goal) while in contact with the coolant and the fuel. Thus, these materials must withstand radiation effects that promote low temperature embrittlement, radiation induced segregation, high temperature helium embrittlement, swelling, accelerated creep, corrosion with the coolant, and chemical interaction with the fuel (FCCI). To develop and qualify materials to a total fluence greater than 200 dpa requires development of advanced alloys and irradiations in fast reactors to test these alloys. Test specimens of ferritic/martensitic alloys (T91/HT-9) previously irradiated in the FFTF reactor up to 210 dpa at a temperature range of 350– 750 °C are presently being tested. This includes analysis of a duct made of HT-9 after irradiation to a total dose of 155 dpa at temperatures from 370 to 510 °C. Compact tension, charpy and tensile specimens have been machined from this duct and mechanical testing as well as SANS and Mossbauer spectroscopy are currently being performed. Initial results from compression testing and Charpy testing reveal a strong increase in yield stress (~400 MPa) and a large increase in DBTT (up to 230 °C) for specimens irradiated at 383 °C to a dose of 28 dpa. Less hardening and a smaller increase in DBTT was observed for specimens irradiated at higher temperatures up to 500 °C. Advanced radiation tolerant materials are also being developed to enable the desired extreme fuel burnup levels. Specifically, coatings are being developed to minimize FCCI, and research is underway to fabricate large heats of radiation tolerant oxide dispersion steels with homogeneous oxide dispersions.

Maloy, S. A.↗

Studies on flower initiation of Super-Dwarf wheat under stress conditions simulating those on the Space Station, Mir

Super-Dwarf wheat plants were grown in growth chambers under 12 treatments with three photoperiods (18 h, 21 h, 24 h) and four carbon dioxide (CO2) levels (360, 1,200, 3,000 and 7,000 micromoles mol-1). Carbon dioxide concentrations affected flower initiation rates of Super-Dwarf wheat. The optimum CO2 level for flower initiation and development was 1,200 micromoles mol-1. Super-optimum CO2 levels delayed flower initiation, but did not decrease final flower bud number per head. Longer photoperiods not only accelerated flower initiation rates, but also decreased deleterious effects of super-optimum CO2. Flower bud size and head length at the same developmental stage were larger under longer photoperiods, but final flower bud number was not affected by photoperiod.

Mir Project↗

The Effect of HVOF Bond Coating with APS Flash Coating on TBC Performance

To study the benefit of ~ 50-µm-thick air-plasma-sprayed (APS) ‘flash’ bond coatings, NiCoCrAlYHfSi high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) bond coatings were deposited on alloy 247 disk substrates with APS yttria-stabilized zirconia topcoatings. Using 1-h cycles at 1100 °C in air with 10% H 2 O and HVOF-only bond coatings as a baseline, APS flash coatings extended the average coating lifetime by > 10% using NiCoCrAlYHfSi and > 70% using NiCoCrAlY powder. Coatings were characterized after 0, 100 and 300 cycles and after failure. Residual stress in the thermally grown alumina scale was mapped every 100 cycles using photo-stimulated luminescence piezospectroscopy. The flash coating created an interlocked metal–alumina layer that appeared to inhibit critical crack formation, and the underlying HVOF layer prevented further internal oxidation and appeared to supply the APS flash coating with Al. Furthermore, the addition of Hf and Y to the flash coating increased internal oxidation and accelerated Al consumption, thereby reducing the benefit of the flash coating.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Crystal development during carbonation of lime-based mortars in different environmental conditions

Highlights: • High CO{sub 2} and DiloCarb® treatment favour advanced carbonation and self-healing. • In the lime mortar without ceramics, channel type pores occur in the aggregate border. • In the lime mortars with ceramics, vug type pores are produced in the binder during kneading. • The formation of tabular CaCO{sub 3} polymorphs caused an increase in stress leading to microshrinkage cracks. • The use of a ceramic provoked dissolution and then re-precipitation of more stable polymorphs. - Abstract: This study examines crystal development during the carbonation of lime mortars according to the additives used and curing conditions. Two types of samples were prepared, one with sand and the other one additionally including Roman ceramics. These mortars were cured: 1) by spraying with a carbonation accelerator product under laboratory conditions; 2) in a climate chamber under 20 °C, 60% relative humidity, and 1600 ppm CO{sub 2}; and 3) under laboratory conditions as controls. Polarized light microscopy, SEM-EDS and XRD were used at 28, 90, 120 and 180 days to monitor the carbonation process. Observations indicate the development of different CaCO{sub 3} polymorphs, which appeared as metastable phases. The early nucleation of a well-defined calcite phase as the most stable CaCO{sub 3} polymorph was only identified in the chamber-cured samples. Differences in the pore network were observed depending on the composition and morphology of the mortar components and the environmental curing conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Cocaine promotes both initiation and elongation phase of HIV-1 transcription by activating NF-κB and MSK1 and inducing selective epigenetic modifications at HIV-1 LTR

Cocaine accelerates human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication by altering specific cell-signaling and epigenetic pathways. We have elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms through which cocaine exerts its effect in myeloid cells, a major target of HIV-1 in central nervous system (CNS). We demonstrate that cocaine treatment promotes HIV-1 gene expression by activating both nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB) and mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 (MSK1). MSK1 subsequently catalyzes the phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10, and p65 subunit of NF-ĸB at 276th serine residue. These modifications enhance the interaction of NF-ĸB with P300 and promote the recruitment of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) to the HIV-1 LTR, supporting the development of an open/relaxed chromatin configuration, and facilitating the initiation and elongation phases of HIV-1 transcription. Results are also confirmed in primary monocyte derived macrophages (MDM). Overall, our study provides detailed insights into cocaine-driven HIV-1 transcription and replication. - Highlights: • Cocaine induces the initiation phase of HIV transcription by activating NF-ĸB. • Cocaine induced NF-ĸB phosphorylation promotes its interaction with P300. • Cocaine enhances the elongation phase of HIV transcription by stimulating MSK1. • Cocaine activated MSK1 catalyzes the phosphorylation of histone H3 at its Ser10. • Cocaine induced H3S10 phosphorylation facilitates the recruitment of P-TEFb at LTR.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Scalar flux transport models for self-similar turbulent mixing

A common approach to closing turbulent species flux in multicomponent Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes models is to use the standard gradient diffusion approximation. While such an approach has been shown to work well when applied to many canonical turbulent mixing configurations, a gradient diffusion approach is fundamentally limited in its ability to capture complex phenomena such as countergradient transport. For this reason, complicated mixing applications may benefit by treating the turbulent diffusivity with a model transport equation in a manner analogous to second-moment momentum closure in Reynolds-stress transport models. Here, the present work explores the development and application of two different scalar flux transport (SFT) models. Self-similarity constraints are derived for these models, and they are evaluated against gradient-diffusion-based models in several one- and two-dimensional problems of turbulent mixing. It is found that the new SFT models out-perform gradient diffusion models in problems involving rapid acceleration reversal and in problems involving anisotropic transport of materials. In addition, it is found that even a hybrid-SFT approach, in which an SFT equation is utilized along with a gradient diffusion closure, provides some measure of improvement over models that transport the mass flux rather than the scalar flux.

Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes↗

Modeling and Simulating Dislocation Dynamics Near Sound Speeds in Cubic Crystals

The motion of crystal dislocations near sound speeds is investigated using atomic-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and continuum equations of motion. A material’s deformation rate is influenced by whether dislocations can propagate in the high-velocity high-stress regime. In the femto-second resolved MD simulations, a shear stress is applied to a pair of partial edge dislocations in copper at T = 25 K, and the pair’s average position is tracked with time. Analysis for the steady-state motion reveals that the dislocations can move faster than at least two transverse sound speeds depending on the applied stress. On the modeling side, the dislocation glide equations govern the evolution of the local displacement field according to material elastic constants. A second-order accurate finite difference scheme is applied to solve the screw dislocation equation in the continuum limit for aluminum. This method proved difficult to implement due to numerical instabilities surrounding the dislocation core, so alternative solving schemes may be needed. Combining an external acceleration with the equation of motion should reveal whether the strain energy density remains finite at transonic and supersonic glide speeds.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quantitative phosphoproteomics reveals GTBP-1 regulating C.elegans lifespan at different environmental temperatures

Highlights: • Comprehensive quantitative phosphoproteomics study of C.elegans during aging under different temperatures. • Phosphoproteomics analysis identified important proteins and signaling pathways. • The kinases CK2, MAPK and CAMK2 might play important roles in aging. • Functional experiments confirm that GTBP-1 could regulate C.elegans lifespan. • An important resource for future studies of protein phosphorylation in C.elegans. Temperature is one of the primary environmental factors that affect aging, in which protein phosphorylation is an important regulator. Currently, the understanding of phosphorylation events in regulatory networks during aging has remained rather limited. Herein, the phosphoproteomes of C.elegans of different age groups cultured at 20 °C (natural aging) and 25 °C (accelerated aging) were analyzed. Through using the iTRAQ-labeled phosphoproteomics method, 2375 phosphoproteins and 9063 phosphosites were identified. Volcano plots illustrated that 208 proteins during natural aging and 130 proteins during accelerated aging, were significantly changed. Gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed that these proteins were mainly involved in translation, development, metabolisms, and animal behavior processes. Moreover, our results uncovered those kinases CK2, MAPK and CAMK2 might play important roles in aging regulation. Functional experiments confirm that the candidated phosphoprotein GTBP-1 could regulate C.elegans lifespan at 20 °C or 25 °C and is more resistant to heat and oxidative stresses. In summary, our results provided an important resource for future studies of protein phosphorylation in worms. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD009661.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Liquid-Like, Self-Healing Aluminum Oxide during Deformation at Room Temperature

Effective protection from environmental degradation relies on the integrity of oxide as diffusion barriers. Ideally, the passivation layer can repair its own breaches quickly under deformation. While studies suggest that the native aluminum oxide may manifest such properties, it has yet to be experimentally proven because direct observations of the air-environmental deformation of aluminum oxide and its initial formation at room temperature are challenging. In this letter, we report in situ experiments to stretch pure aluminum nanotips under O 2 gas environments in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). We discovered that aluminum oxide indeed deforms like liquid and can match the deformation of Al without any cracks/spallation at moderate strain rate. At higher strain rate, we exposed fresh metal surface, and visualized the self-healing process of aluminum oxide at atomic resolution. Unlike traditional thin-film growth or nanoglass consolidation processes, we observe seamless coalescence of new oxide islands without forming any glass–glass interface or surface grooves, indicating greatly accelerated glass kinetics at the surface compared to the bulk.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ex Situ Investigation of Anisotropic Interconnection in Silicon-Titanium-Nickel Alloy Anode Material

Herein we investigate the nanostructural evolution of Silicon-Titanium-Nickel (Si-Ti-Ni) ternary alloy material synthesized by melt spinning process for advanced lithium-ion battery anode. The synthesized material was found to have nano-Silicon particles dispersed in the Ti 4 Ni 4 Si 7 (STN) alloy buffering matrix and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution- transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), Scanning transmission electron microscopes - energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (STEM-EDS), and electrochemical performance test. The role of STN matrix is to accommodate the volume expansion stresses of the dispersed Si nanoparticles. However, an interesting behavior was observed during cycling. The Si nanoparticles were observed to form interconnection channels growing through the weak STN matrix cracks and evolving to a network isolating the STN matrix into small puddles. In conclusion, this unique nanostructural evolution of Si particles and isolation of the STN matrix failing to offer significant buffering effect to the grown Si network eventually accelerates more volume expansions during cycling due to less mechanical confinement and leads to performance degradation and poor cycle stability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermal Test on Target with Pressed Disks

A thorough test of the thermal performance of a target for Mo 99 production using solid Mo 100 target to produce the Mo 99 via a gamma-n reaction has previously been conducted at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The results are reported in “Zero Degree Line Mo Target Thermal Test Results and Analysis,” LANL report Number LA-UR-15-23134 dated 3/27/15. This target was comprised of 25 disks 1 mm thick and 12 mm in diameter, separated by helium coolant gaps 0.5 mm wide. The test reported in the above referenced report was conducted with natural Mo disks all cut from commercial rod. The production plant will have Mo 100 disks pressed and sintered using a process being developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The structural integrity of press-and-sinter disks is of some concern. The test reported herein included 4 disks made by the ORNL process and placed in the high heat, and therefore high thermal stress, region of the target. The electron beam energy was 23 MeV for these tests. Beam spot size was 3.5 mm horizontal and 3 mm vertical, FWHM. The thermal stress test of pressed-and-sintered disks resulted in no mechanical failures. The induced thermal stresses were below yield stress for natural Mo, indicating that up to that stress state no inherent deficiencies in the mechanical properties of the fabricated disks were evident.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Design and Optimization of a Hybrid Design for Quantum Transduction

This study presents the mechanical design and analysis of a quantum electro-optical transducer engineered to operate at millikelvin temperatures within a dilution refrigerator. The transducer enables bidirectional microwave-optical frequency conversion through a hybrid architecture that integrates a superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity with an electro-optic optical cavity. Among several design options investigated, the configuration offering the best thermal and mechanical performance was selected, yielding a robust solution with reduced sensitivity to fabrication tolerances, improved heat dissipation, as well as alignment precision. The design ensures uniform temperature distribution, enabling higher laser pump powers and, thus, increased conversion efficiency, while maintaining mechanical stresses safely below the material yield strength. Electromagnetic simulations further validate the design, demonstrating enhanced coupling between the optical and microwave modes, as well as a broader tuning range achieved with smaller tuner displacements.

quantum computing↗

The energetics of resistive magnetic tearing

A new treatment of the energetics of resistive magnetic tearing is presented. This instability is the only known field-reconnection mechanism which develops in time, and is thus a primary candidate for a number of astrophysical 'flare' processes occurring in stressed magnetic fields. The tearing process is elucidated by a subdivision into magnetic regions of different characteristics: first, as dominated by resistive or highly conductive dynamics, and then by function as a source or sink of the energy flux. Matching conditions between these zones provide a determination of the growth rate and its physical-parameter dependence. The observable plasma energy outputs, due mainly to two distinct magnetically driven acceleration mechanisms, are estimated and their directive spatial properties shown. Finally, the generality of resistive tearing is demonstrated by an application of the previous considerations to realistic sheared-field configurations, including the case of a solar coronal loop, for which flare-instability thresholds and energy-deposition sites are described.

Van Hoven, G.↗

Liquid hydrogen slosh waves excited by constant reverse gravity acceleration of geyser initiation

The requirement to settle or to position liquid fuel over the outlet end of the spacecraft propellant tank before main engine restart poses a microgravity fluid behavior problem. Resettlement or reorientation of liquid propellant can be accomplished by providing the optimal acceleration to the spacecraft such that the propellant is reoriented over the tank outlet. In this study slosh wave excitation induced by the resettling flowfield during the course of liquid reorientation with the initiation of geyser for liquid-filled levels of 30, 50, 65, 70, and 80 percent have been studied. Characteristics of slosh waves with various frequencies excited are discussed. Slosh wave excitations will affect the fluid stress distribution exerted on the container wall and shift the fluid mass distribution inside the container, which imposes the time-dependent variations in the moment of inertia of the container. This information is important for the spacecraft control during the course of liquid reorientation.

Hung, R. J.↗

Long-time stress relaxation of a filled elastomer in vacuum environments

Samples of a filled elastomeric ablative material were stored at 45 C and 10 to the -6th torr for 7 months. Their tensile stress-relaxation modulus at constant strain was measured throughout the 7 months. Results of the testing are discussed primarily by comparisons of the data to atmospheric-pressure moduli (determined in this work for shorter periods of time) and with moduli predicted from short-time testing. Confirmation of the strengthening effects of vacuum on this composite was obtained. The use of time-temperature superposition techniques as an approximate accelerated testing procedure for this material under these conditions was also verified.

Ward, T. C.↗

Remote Sensing of Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) in Vegetation: 50 Years of Progress

Remote sensing of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is a rapidly advancing front in terrestrial vegetation science, with emerging capability in space-based methodologies and diverse application prospects. Although remote sensing of SIF – especially from space – is seen as a contemporary new specialty for terrestrial plants, it is founded upon a multi-decadal history of research, applications, and sensor developments in active and passive sensing of chlorophyll fluorescence. Current technical capabilities allow SIF to be measured across a range of biological, spatial, and temporal scales. As an optical signal, SIF may be assessed remotely using highly-resolved spectral sensors and state-of-the-art algorithms to distinguish the emission from reflected and/or scattered ambient light. Because the red to far-red SIF emission is detectable non-invasively, it may be sampled repeatedly to acquire spatio-temporally explicit information about photosynthetic light responses and steady-state behaviour in vegetation. Progress in this field is accelerating with innovative sensor developments, retrieval methods, and modelling advances. This review distills the historical and current developments spanning the last several decades. It highlights SIF heritage and complementarity within the broader field of fluorescence science, the maturation of physiological and radiative transfer modelling, SIF signal retrieval strategies, techniques for field and airborne sensing, advances in satellite-based systems, and applications of these capabilities in evaluation of photosynthesis and stress effects. Progress, challenges, and future directions are considered for this unique avenue of remote sensing.

Review↗

DGEBF epoxy blends for use in the resin impregnation of extremely large composite parts

Large superconducting electromagnets used in fusion reactors utilize a large amount of glass/epoxy composite for electrical insulation and mechanical and thermal strengths. Moreover, the manufacture of these magnets involves wrapping each superconducting cable bundle with dry glass cloth followed by the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding of the entire magnet. Due to their enormous size (more than 100 tons), it requires more than 40 h for resin impregnation and the subsequent pressure cycles to ensure complete impregnation and removal of any trapped air pockets. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F epoxy resin cross-linked with methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride with an accelerator has been shown to be a good candidate for use in composite parts requiring long impregnation cycles. Viscosity, gel time, and glass transition temperature of four resin-blends of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F resin system were monitored as a function of time and temperature with an objective to find the blend that provides a working window longer than 40h at low viscosity without lowering its glass transition temperature. A resin-blend in the weight ratios of resin:hardener:accelerator=100:82:0.125 is shown to provide more than 60h at low resin viscosity while maintaining the same glass transition temperature as obtained with previously used resin-blends, based on the results.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗