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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Topology of three-dimensional separated flows

Based on the hypothesis that patterns of skin-friction lines and external streamlines reflect the properties of continuous vector fields, topology rules define a small number of singular points (nodes, saddle points, and foci) that characterize the patterns on the surface and on particular projections of the flow (e.g., the crossflow plane). The restricted number of singular points and the rules that they obey are considered as an organizing principle whose finite number of elements can be combined in various ways to connect together the properties common to all steady three dimensional viscous flows. Introduction of a distinction between local and global properties of the flow resolves an ambiguity in the proper definition of a three dimensional separated flow. Adoption of the notions of topological structure, structural stability, and bifurcation provides a framework to describe how three dimensional separated flows originate and succeed each other as the relevant parameters of the problem are varied.

Tobak, M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Evidence of auroral plasma cavities at Uranus and Neptune from radio burst observations

Radio bursts originating from the stronger magnetic polar regions of both Uranus and Neptune were detected by the planetary radio astronomy experiment during the Voyager 2 encounters with the planets. It has previously been demonstrated that these bursts are beamed into a broad, hollow emission pattern from their auroral sources. It is now shown that the bursts at both planets also manifest similar detailed patterns, with the waves beamed into two separate and distinct radiation cones at intermediate wave frequencies. This double-cone emission pattern is predicted by relativistic cyclotron resonance theory, and application of this theory to the observed emission pattern yields the plasma density structure within the radio source region. Calculations indicate that at both Uranus and Neptune the plasma-to-cyclotron frequency ratio can drop well below 0.01 within the active region. Such low values indicate that the southern auroral zones at both planets contain an auroral plasma cavity that is similar to that found in earth's nightside auroral zone.

Farrell, W. M.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Effective Electrostatic Interactions Between Two Overall Neutral Surfaces with Quenched Charge Heterogeneity Over Atomic Length Scale

Using Monte Carlo results as a reference, a classical density functional theory (CDFT) is shown to reliably predict the forces between two heterogeneously charged surfaces immersed in an electrolyte solution, whereas the Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) theory is demonstrated to deteriorate obviously for the same system even if the system parameters considered fall within the validity range of the PB theory in the homogeneously charged surfaces. By applying the tested CDFT, we study the effective electrostatic potential of mean force (EPMF) between two face–face planar and hard surfaces of zero net charge on which positive and negative charges are separated and considered to present as discontinuous spots on the inside edges of the two surfaces. Main conclusions are summarized as follows: (i) strength of the EPMF in the surface charge separation case is very sensitively and positively correlated with the surface charge separation level and valency of the salt ion. Particularly, the charge separation level and the salt ion valency have a synergistic effect, which makes high limit of the EPMF strength in the surface charge separation case significantly go beyond that of the ideal homogeneously charged surface counterpart at average surface charge density similar to the average surface positive or negative charge density in the charge separation case. (ii) The surface charge distribution patterns mainly influence sign of the EPMF: symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns induce repulsive and attractive (at small distances) EPMF, respectively; but with low valency salt ions and low charge separation level the opposite may be the case. With simultaneous presence of both higher valency cation and anion, the EPMF can be repulsive at intermediate distances for asymmetrical patterns. (iii) Salt ion size has a significant impact, which makes the EPMF tend to become more and more repulsive with the ion diameter regardless of the surface charge distribution patterns and the valency of the salt ion; whereas if the 1:1 type electrolyte and the symmetrical patterns are considered, then the opposite may be the case. All of these findings can be explained self-consistently from several perspectives: an excess adsorption of the salt ions (induced by the surface charge separation) serving to raise the osmotic pressure between the plates, configuration fine-tuning in the thinner ion adsorption layer driven by the energy decrease principle, direct Coulombic interactions operating between charged objects on the two face-to-face plates involved, and net charge strength in the ion adsorption layer responsible for the net electrostatic repulsion.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

A method for mapping submicron-scale crystallographic order/disorder applied to human tooth enamel

Tooth enamel, the outermost layer of human teeth, is a complex, hierarchically structured biocomposite. The details of this structure are important in multiple human health contexts, from understanding the progression of dental caries (tooth decay) to understanding the process of amelogenesis and related developmental defects. Enamel is composed primarily of long, nanoscale crystallites of hydroxyapatite that are bundled by the thousands to form micron-scale rods. Studies with transmission electron microscopy show the relationships between small groups of crystallites and X-ray diffraction characterize averages over many rods, but the direct measurement of variations in local crystallographic structure across and between enamel rods has been missing. Here, we describe a synchrotron X-ray-based experimental approach and a novel analysis method developed to address this gap in knowledge. A ~500-nm-wide beam of monochromatic X-rays in conjunction with a sample section only 1 μm in thickness enables 2D diffraction patterns to be collected from small well-separated volumes within the enamel microstructure but still probes enough crystallites (~300 per pattern) to extract population-level statistics on crystallographic features like lattice parameter, crystallite size, and orientation distributions. Furthermore, the development of a quantitative metric to characterize relative order and disorder based on the azimuthal autocorrelation of diffracted intensity enables these crystallographic measurements to be correlated with their location within the enamel microstructure (e.g., between rod and interrod regions). These methods represent a step forward in the characterization of human enamel and will elucidate the variation of the crystallographic structure across and between enamel rods for the first time.

crystallographic order/disorder↗
DOE OSTI2021

Understanding nanoscale structural distortions in Pb(Zr 0.2 Ti 0.8 )O 3 by utilizing X-ray nanodiffraction and clustering algorithm analysis

Hard X-ray nanodiffraction provides a unique nondestructive technique to quantify local strain and structural inhomogeneities at nanometer length scales. However, sample mosaicity and phase separation can result in a complex diffraction pattern that can make it challenging to quantify nanoscale structural distortions. In this work, a k-means clustering algorithm was utilized to identify local maxima of intensity by partitioning diffraction data in a three-dimensional feature space of detector coordinates and intensity. This technique has been applied to X-ray nanodiffraction measurements of a patterned ferroelectric PbZr 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 3 sample. The analysis reveals the presence of two phases in the sample with different lattice parameters. A highly heterogeneous distribution of lattice parameters with a variation of 0.02 Å was also observed within one ferroelectric domain. This approach provides a nanoscale survey of subtle structural distortions as well as phase separation in ferroelectric domains in a patterned sample.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Scalable Nanoimprint Manufacturing of Functional Multilayer Metasurface Devices

Optical metasurfaces, consisting of subwavelength-scale meta-atom arrays, hold great promise of overcoming the fundamental limitations of conventional optics. Due to their structural complexity, metasurfaces usually require high-resolution yet slow and expensive fabrication processes. Here, using a metasurface polarimetric imaging device as an example, the photonic structures and the Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) processes are designed, creating two separate NIL molds over a patterning area of > 20 mm2 with designed Moiré alignment markers by electron-beam writing, and further subsequently integrate silicon and aluminum metasurface structures on a chip. Uniquely, the silicon and aluminum metasurfaces are fabricated by using the nanolithography and 3D pattern-transfer capabilities of NIL, respectively, achieving nanometer-scale linewidth uniformity, sub-200 nm translational overlay accuracy, and <0.017 rotational alignment error while significantly reducing fabrication complexity and surface roughness. Here, the micro-sized multilayer metasurfaces have high circular polarization extinction ratios as large as ≈20 and ≈80 in blue and red wavelengths. Further, the metasurface chip-integrated CMOS imager demonstrates high accuracy in broad-band, full Stokes parameter analysis in the visible wavelength ranges and single-shot polarimetric imaging. This novel, NIL-based, multilayered nanomanufacturing approach is applicable to the scalable production of large-area functional structures for ultra-compact optic, electronic, and quantum devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Maize yield under a changing climate: The hidden role of vapor pressure deficit

Temperatures over the next century are expected to rise to levels detrimental to crop growth and yield. As the atmosphere warms without additional water vapor input, vapor pressure deficit (VPD) increases as well. Increased temperatures and accompanied elevated VPD levels can both lead to negative impacts on crop yield. The independent importance of VPD, however, is often neglected or conflated with that from temperature due to a tight correlation between the two climate factors. We used a coupled process-based crop (MAIZSIM) and soil (2DSOIL) model to gain a mechanistic understanding of the independent roles temperature and VPD play in crop yield projections, as well as their interactions with rising CO 2 levels and changing precipitation patterns. We found that by separating out the VPD effect from rising temperatures, VPD increases had a greater negative impact on yield (12.9 ± 1.8%, increase in VPD associated with 2 °C warming) compared to that from warming (8.5 ± 1.4%, the direct effect of 2 °C warming). The negative impact of these two factors varied with precipitation levels and influenced yield through separate mechanisms. Warmer temperatures caused yield loss mainly through shortening the growing season, while elevated VPD increased water loss and triggered several water stress responses such as reduced photosynthetic rates, lowered leaf area development, and shortened growing season length. Elevated CO 2 concentrations partially alleviated yield loss under warming or increased VPD conditions through water savings, but the impact level varied with precipitation levels and was most pronounced under drier conditions. These results demonstrate the key role VPD plays in crop growth and yield, displaying a magnitude of impact comparative to temperature and CO 2 . A mechanistic understanding of the function of VPD and its relation with other climate factors and management practices is critical to improving crop yield projections under a changing climate.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Designing Anion-Exchange Ionomers with Oriented Nanoscale Phase Separation at a Silver Interface

We report performance of polymer electrolyte-based energy systems is significantly impacted by transport within the electrode catalyst layer, where ionomer thin films coat catalyst particles. Proton exchange ionomer thin films have been thoroughly characterized, but few studies have critically examined anion-exchange ionomer (AEI) thin films. Further, none have reported nanoscale phase separation for hydrocarbon AEIs, which is critical to mitigate transport resistances. In this work, a set of hydrocarbon-based AEIs with nanoscale phase separation are developed from tunable block copolymer systems composed of polyisoprene (PIp) and polychloromethylstyrene (PCMS). The effect of the PIp/PCMS ratio, architecture, and thickness on the thin-film morphology of the neutral block copolymer precursors on silicon and silver substrates is investigated using grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). AEIs are prepared by quaternizing with trimethylamine or methylpiperidine and their cation-dependent morphology is characterized at 60 °C and 95% RH. A perpendicularly aligned morphology is observed on silver, while no phase separation is observed on silicon, indicating that silver-polymer interfacial interactions drive phase separation. After quaternization, dipole-dipole interactions induce some disorder, but nanoscale phase separation is still maintained. GISAXS patterns are modeled using a Unified Fit approach to understand water uptake and swelling, and recommendations for AEI design are presented.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Prospective life-cycle modeling of a carbon capture and storage system using metal-organic frameworks for CO2 capture

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising new material media for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture. Their tunable adsorption patterns may allow relatively efficient separation of gases, e.g. from power plant exhaust. Here we conduct scenario-based prospective life-cycle system modeling to estimate the potentials and implications of large-scale MOF application for post-combustion carbon capture and storage (CCS), and estimate the source and magnitude of uncertainties. The methodological approach includes parametric system modeling to quantify relations between system components; scenario projections of plausible pathways for system scale-up; proxy data on analogous materials and processes; and uncertainty analysis of parameter significance. We estimate the system-wide material and energy flows and economic costs associated with projected large-scale CCS deployment. We compare the performance of a MOF-based system to currently more mature amine-based capture technology. We discuss balancing two critical factors that determine the success of CO2 capture media: thermodynamic efficiency of the capture/regeneration cycle, and life-cycle embodied energy and cost of the material and its ancillary systems.

Sathre, R↗
DOE OSTI2014

Higher fullerenes: Compositional analysis by EDXD and molecular dynamics

A carbon soot of higher fullerenes was studied by Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction (EDXD) aiming at defining the overall structure as accurately as possible to define the overall structure, without lengthy separation and purification procedures. EDXD pattern was compared with model curves obtained for single homogeneous fullerenes already crystallized and for the hypothesized C180. All fullerenes contribute to the overall experimental curve to different extents, with C96 giving the best agreement. The presence of even higher fullerenes is very likely, since the hypothesized C180 gives a very good match as well.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2012

Multicontrast x-ray computed tomography imaging using Talbot-Lau interferometry without phase stepping

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to demonstrate that multicontrast computed tomography (CT) imaging can be performed using a Talbot-Lau interferometer without phase stepping, thus allowing for an acquisition scheme like that used for standard absorption CT. Methods: Rather than using phase stepping to extract refraction, small-angle scattering (SAS), and absorption signals, the two gratings of a Talbot-Lau interferometer were rotated slightly to generate a moire pattern on the detector. A Fourier analysis of the moire pattern was performed to obtain separate projection images of each of the three contrast signals, all from the same single-shot of x-ray exposure. After the signals were extracted from the detector data for all view angles, image reconstruction was performed to obtain absorption, refraction, and SAS CT images. A physical phantom was scanned to validate the proposed data acquisition method. The results were compared with a phantom scan using the standard phase stepping approach. Results: The reconstruction of each contrast mechanism produced the expected results. Signal levels and contrasts match those obtained using the phase stepping technique. Conclusions: Absorption, refraction, and SAS CT imaging can be achieved using the Talbot-Lau interferometer without the additional overhead of long scan time and phase stepping.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
NASA NTRS1974

Separated flow over bodies of revolution using an unsteady discrete-vorticity cross wake. Part 2: Computer program description

A method is developed to determine the flow field of a body of revolution in separated flow. The computer was used to integrate various solutions and solution properties of the sub-flow fields which made up the entire flow field without resorting to a finite difference solution to the complete Navier-Stokes equations. The technique entails the use of the unsteady cross flow analogy and a new solution to the two-dimensional unsteady separated flow problem based upon an unsteady, discrete-vorticity wake. Data for the forces and moments on aerodynamic bodies at low speeds and high angle of attack (outside the range of linear inviscid theories) such that the flow is substantially separated are produced which compare well with experimental data. In addition, three dimensional steady separated regions and wake vortex patterns are determined. The computer program developed to perform the numerical calculations is described.

Marshall, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Separated flow over bodies of revolution using an unsteady discrete-vorticity cross wake. Part 1: Theory and application

A method is developed to determine the flow field of a body of revolution in separated flow. The technique employed is the use of the computer to integrate various solutions and solution properties of the sub-flow fields which made up the entire flow field without resorting to a finite difference solution to the complete Navier-Stokes equations. The technique entails the use of the unsteady cross flow analogy and a new solution to the required two-dimensional unsteady separated flow problem based upon an unsteady, discrete-vorticity wake. Data for the forces and moments on aerodynamic bodies at low speeds and high angle of attack (outside the range of linear inviscid theories) such that the flow is substantially separated are produced which compare well with experimental data. In addition, three dimensional steady separation regions and wake vortex patterns are determined.

Marshall, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Separated flow over a body of revolution

A method is developed to determine the flowfield of a body of revolution in separated flow. The technique employed is the use of the computer to integrate various solutions and solution properties of the sub-flowfields which make up the entire flowfield without resorting to a finite difference solution to the complete Navier-Stokes equations. The technique entails the use of the unsteady cross flow analogy and a new solution to the required two-dimensional unsteady separated flow problem based upon an unsteady discrete-vorticity wake. Data for the forces and moments on bodies of revolution at high angle of attack (outside the range of linear inviscid theories) such that the flow is substantially separated are produced which compare well with experimental data at low speeds. In addition, three-dimensional steady separation regions and wake vortex patterns are determined.

Marshall, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Electric fields and electrostatic potentials in the high latitude ionosphere

Recent interpretive studies of electric field-driven ionospheric plasma convection data from the AE-C satellite are described, where the instruments employed include an ion drift meter and an ion-retarding potential analyzer. Electrostatic potential curves are derived from ion drift velocity measurements for high-latitude segments of the satellite's orbit. The potential curves are shown to be useful in determining the character of the global electrostatic potential pattern, with emphasis on the separation of convective cells. Results are given for six orbits, with attention to the mid-day auroral region.

Banks, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Microyield Stress in Composite Materials

New interferometric method for measuring microyield stress faster and more accurate than previous strain-gage method. Multiple laser beams reflected from corner-cube reflectors arranged in triangular patterns yielding data sufficient to separate length changes from rigid-body motion and bending.

Mcmahan, L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Perforating Thin Metal Sheets

Sheets only few mils thick bonded together, punched, then debonded. Three-step process yields perforated sheets of metal. (1): Individual sheets bonded together to form laminate. (2): laminate perforated in desired geometric pattern. (3): After baking, laminate separates into individual sheets. Developed for fabricating conductive layer on blankets that collect and remove ions; however, perforated foils have other applications - as conductive surfaces on insulating materials; stiffeners and conductors in plastic laminates; reflectors in antenna dishes; supports for thermal blankets; lightweight grille cover materials; and material for mockup of components.

Davidson, M. E.↗