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At least 1,693 records · Page 94
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Transition Models for Engineering Calculations

While future theoretical and conceptual developments may promote a better understanding of the physical processes involved in the latter stages of boundary layer transition, the designers of rotodynamic machinery and other fluid dynamic devices need effective transition models now. This presentation will therefore center around the development of of some transition models which have been developed as design aids to improve the prediction codes used in the performance evaluation of gas turbine blading. All models are based on Narasimba's concentrated breakdown and spot growth.

Fraser, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Comparison of CALIPSO-Like, LaRC, and MODIS Retrievals of Ice Cloud Properties over SIRTA in France and Florida during CRYSTAL-FACE

This study compares cirrus particle effective radius retrieved by a CALIPSO-like method with two similar methods using MODIS, MODI Airborne Simulator (MAS), and GOES imagery. The CALIPSO-like method uses lidar measurements coupled with the split-window technique that uses the infrared spectral information contained at the 8.65-micrometer, 11.15-micrometer and 12.05-micrometer bands to infer the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds. The two other methods, sing passive remote sensing at visible and infrared wavelengths, are the operational MODIS cloud products (referred to by its archival product identifier MOD06 for MODIS Terra) and MODIS retrievals performed by the CERES team at LaRC (Langley Research Center) in support of CERES algorithms; the two algorithms will be referred to as MOD06- and LaRC-method, respectively. The three techniques are compared at two different latitudes: (i) the mid-latitude ice clouds study uses 18 days of observations at the Palaiseau ground-based site in France (SIRTA: Site Instrumental de Recherche par Teledetection Atmospherique) including a ground-based 532 nm lidar and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) overpasses on the Terra Platform, (ii) the tropical ice clouds study uses 14 different flight legs of observations collected in Florida, during the intensive field experiment CRYSTAL-FACE (Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and cirrus Layers-Florida Area Cirrus Experiment), including the airborne Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) and the MAS. The comparison of the three methods gives consistent results for the particle effective radius and the optical thickness, but discrepancies in cloud detection and altitudes. The study confirms the value of an active remote-sensing method (CALIPSO-like) for the study of sub-visible ice clouds, in both mid-latitudes and tropics. Nevertheless, this method is not reliable in optically very thick tropical ice clouds.

Chiriaco, M.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Supersonic Retropulsion Surface Preparation of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites for Adhesive Bonding

Surface preparation is widely recognized as a key step to producing robust and predictable bonds in a precise and reproducible manner. Standard surface preparation techniques, including grit blasting, manual abrasion, and peel ply, can lack precision and reproducibility, which can lead to variation in surface properties and subsequent bonding performance. The use of a laser to ablate composite surface resin can provide an efficient, precise, and reproducible means of preparing composite surfaces for adhesive bonding. Advantages include elimination of physical waste (i.e., grit media and sacrificial peel ply layers that ultimately require disposal), reduction in process variability due to increased precision (e.g. increased reproducibility), and automation of surface preparation, all of which improve reliability and process control. This paper describes a Nd:YAG laser surface preparation technique for composite substrates and the mechanical performance and failure modes of bonded laminates thus prepared. Additionally, bonded specimens were aged in a hot, wet environment for approximately one year and subsequently mechanically tested. The results of a one year hygrothermal aging study will be presented.

Palmieri, Frank L.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Blunt-Body Aerothermodynamic Database from High-Enthalpy CO2 Testing in an Expansion Tunnel

An extensive database of heating, pressure, and flow field measurements on a 70-deg sphere-cone blunt body geometry in high-enthalpy, CO2 flow has been generated through testing in an expansion tunnel. This database is intended to support development and validation of computational tools and methods to be employed in the design of future Mars missions. The test was conducted in an expansion tunnel in order to avoid uncertainties in the definition of free stream conditions noted in previous studies performed in reflected shock tunnels. Data were obtained across a wide range of test velocity/density conditions that produced various physical phenomena of interest, including laminar and transitional/turbulent boundary layers, non-reacting to completely dissociated post-shock gas composition and shock-layer radiation. Flow field computations were performed at the test conditions and comparisons were made with the experimental data. Based on these comparisons, it is recommended that computational uncertainties on surface heating and pressure, for laminar, reacting-gas environments can be reduced to +/-10% and +/-5%, respectively. However, for flows with turbulence and shock-layer radiation, there were not sufficient validation-quality data obtained in this study to make any conclusions with respect to uncertainties, which highlights the need for further research in these areas.

Hollis, Brian R.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Power electronics substrate for direct substrate cooling

Systems and apparatus are provided for power electronics substrates adapted for direct substrate cooling. A power electronics substrate comprises a first surface configured to have electrical circuitry disposed thereon, a second surface, and a plurality of physical features on the second surface. The physical features are configured to promote a turbulent boundary layer in a coolant impinged upon the second surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Resumption-like Increases of Glass Corrosion Rate in Long-term Experiments - 20284

It is shown that physical state and physical changes that occur in the near-surface layers of nuclear waste glasses in contact with water can readily lead to an effective increase of leaching rate which is similar to alteration rate renewal. This increase is similar to third generically accepted stage of glass corrosion termed alteration rate renewal (or resumption) stage when the glass re-starts corroding with the rate similar to that at the initial stage. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2015

Similarity solution to three dimensional boundary layer flow of second grade nanofluid past a stretching surface with thermal radiation and heat source/sink

Development of human society greatly depends upon solar energy. Heat, electricity and water from nature can be obtained through solar power. Sustainable energy generation at present is a critical issue in human society development. Solar energy is regarded one of the best sources of renewable energy. Hence the purpose of present study is to construct a model for radiative effects in three-dimensional of nanofluid. Flow of second grade fluid by an exponentially stretching surface is considered. Thermophoresis and Brownian motion effects are taken into account in presence of heat source/sink and chemical reaction. Results are derived for the dimensionless velocities, temperature and concentration. Graphs are plotted to examine the impacts of physical parameters on the temperature and concentration. Numerical computations are presented to examine the values of skin-friction coefficients, Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. It is observed that the values of skin-friction coefficients are more for larger values of second grade parameter. Moreover the radiative effects on the temperature and concentration are quite reverse.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Elimination of the bias-stress effect in ligand-free quantum dot field-effect transistors

Field-effect transistors (FETs) made from colloidal quantum dot (QD) solids commonly suffer from current–voltage hysteresis caused by the bias-stress effect (BSE), which complicates fundamental studies of charge transport in QD solids and the use of QD FETs in electronics. Here, we show that the BSE can be eliminated in n-channel PbSe QD FETs by first removing the QD ligands with a dose of H 2 S gas and then infilling the QD films with alumina by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The H 2 S-treated, alumina-infilled FETs have stable, hysteresis-free device characteristics (total short-term stability), indefinite air stability (total long-term stability), and a high electron mobility of up to 14 cm 2 V −1 s −1 , making them attractive for QD circuitry and optoelectronic devices. The BSE-free devices are utilized to conclusively establish the dependence of the electron mobility on temperature and QD diameter. We demonstrate that the BSE in these devices is caused by both electron trapping at the QD surface and proton drift within the film. The H 2 S/alumina chemistry produces ligand-free PbSe/PbS/Al 2 O 3 interfaces that lack the traps that cause the electronic part of the BSE, while full alumina infilling stops the proton motion responsible for the ionic part of the BSE. In conclusion, our matrix engineering approach should aid efforts to eliminate the BSE, boost carrier mobilities, and improve charge transport in other types of nanocrystal solids.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Transparent electrodes for high E-field production using a buried indium tin oxide layer

We present a design and characterization of optically transparent electrodes suitable for atomic and molecular physics experiments where high optical access is required. The electrodes can be operated in air at standard atmospheric pressure and do not suffer electrical breakdown even for electric fields far exceeding the dielectric breakdown of air. This is achieved by putting an indium tin oxide coated dielectric substrate inside a stack of dielectric substrates, which prevents ion avalanche resulting from Townsend discharge. With this design, we observe no arcing for fields of up to 120 kV/cm. Using these plates, we directly verify the production of electric fields up to 18 kV/cm inside a quartz vacuum cell by a spectroscopic measurement of the dc Stark shift of the 5{sup 2}S{sub 1/2} → 5{sup 2}P{sub 3/2} transition for a cloud of laser cooled rubidium atoms. We also report on the shielding of the electric field and on the residual electric fields that persist within the vacuum cell once the electrodes are discharged. In addition, we discuss observed atom loss that results from the motion of free charges within the vacuum. The observed asymmetry of these phenomena on the bias of the electrodes suggests that field emission of electrons within the vacuum is primarily responsible for these effects and may indicate a way of mitigating them.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2011

Recent Results on Coupling Fast Waves to High Performance Plasmas on DIII-D

Fast Waves (FWs) at 60 MHz and 90 MHz are used in DIII-D for central electron heating and current drive. Coupling of FWs to high-performance discharges is limited by low antenna loading in these regimes. To extend the application of high-power FWs to such regimes, methods of increasing the antenna loading in these regimes are needed. A systematic study of loading enhancement techniques has been carried out in DIII-D, including reduction of the antenna/plasma distance, gas puffing into the far scrape-off layer (SOL), and control of other parameters that affect the particle balance in the far SOL. Quantitative understanding of the physics of the loading resistance and its dependence on edge density profiles is demonstrated. The core FW heating efficiency appeared to be {approx}100% in the Advanced Inductive regime, consistent with the high first-pass direct electron absorption of {approx}75% that is predicted by the ray-tracing code GENRAY in this high electron beta regime.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Atomic-scale oxygen-vacancy engineering in Sub-2 nm thin Al 2 O 3 /MgO memristors

Ultrathin (sub-2 nm) Al 2 O 3 /MgO memristors were recently developed using an in vacuo atomic layer deposition (ALD) process that minimizes unintended defects and prevents undesirable leakage current. These memristors provide a unique platform that allows oxygen vacancies (V O ) to be inserted into the memristor with atomic precision and study how this affects the formation and rupture of conductive filaments (CFs) during memristive switching. Herein, we present a systematic study on three sets of ultrathin Al 2 O 3 /MgO memristors with V O -doping via modular MgO atomic layer insertion into an otherwise pristine insulating Al 2 O 3 atomic layer stack (ALS) using an in vacuo ALD. At a fixed memristor thickness of 17 Al 2 O 3 /MgO atomic layers (~1.9 nm), the properties of the memristors were found to be affected by the number and stacking pattern of the MgO atomic layers in the Al 2 O 3 /MgO ALS. Importantly, the trend of reduced low-state resistance and the increasing appearance of multi-step switches with an increasing number of MgO atomic layers suggests a direct correlation between the dimension and dynamic evolution of the conducting filaments and the V O concentration and distribution. Understanding such a correlation is critical to an atomic-scale control of the switching behavior of ultrathin memristors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Comparison of edge turbulence characteristics between DIII-D and C-Mod simulations with XGC1

The physical processes taking place at the separatrix and scrape-off layer regions are crucial for the operation of tokamaks as they govern the interaction of hot plasma with the vessel walls. Numerical modeling of the edge with state-of-the-art codes attempts to elucidate the complex interactions between neoclassical drifts, turbulence, poloidal and parallel flows that control the physical set-up of the SOL region. Here, we present post-processing analysis of simulation results from the gyrokinetic code XGC1, comparing and contrasting edge turbulence characteristics from a simulation of the DIII-D tokamak against a simulation of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. We find that the equilibrium ExB flux across the separatrix has a similar poloidal pattern in both discharges which can be explained by rB-drifts and trapped ion excursions. Furthermore, collisionality is noted to play a major role in the way that it prevents local charge accumulations from having more global effects in the C-Mod case. In both cases, turbulent electron heat flux is observed to be higher than the ion one and is possibly related to the need of electrons to maintain quasineutrality through the only channel available to them for exiting the confinement. By Fourier analysis, we identify turbulent frequencies and growth rates of the dominant mode in both simulations. In the case of C-Mod, these numbers point to the presence of a drift wave. In the DIII-D case, further linear simulations with the Gene code reveal a trapped electron mode. Furthermore, using a blob detection and tracking tool, we present the amplitude and size distributions of the blobs from both simulations. The amplitude distributions are in qualitative agreement with experimental observations while the size distributions are consistent with the fact that most of the blobs are not connecting to the divertor plates and suggest that they are generated by the shearing of the turbulent modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Shales at all scales: Exploring coupled processes in mudrocks

Fine-grained sedimentary rocks – namely mudrocks, including their laminated fissile variety — shales – make up about two thirds of all sedimentary rocks in the Earth's crust and a quarter of the continental land mass. Additionally, organic-rich shales and mudstones are the source rocks and reservoirs for conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Mudrocks are relied upon as natural barriers for geological carbon storage and nuclear waste disposal. Consideration of mudrock multi-scale physics and multi-scale spatial and temporal behavior is vital to address emergent phenomena in shale formations perturbed by engineering activities. Unique physical characteristics of shales arise as a result of their layered and highly heterogeneous and anisotropic nature, low permeability fabric, compositional complexity, and nano-scale confined chemical environments. Barriers of lexicon among geoscientists and engineers impede the development and use of conceptual models for the coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical-biological (THMCB) processes in mudrock formations. This manuscript reviews the THMCB process couplings, resulting emergent behavior, and key modeling approaches. We identify future research priorities, in particular fundamental knowledge gaps in understanding the phase behavior under nano-scale confinement, coupled chemo-mechanical effects on fractures, the interplay between physical and chemical processes and their rates, and issues of non-linearity and heterogeneity. We develop recommendations for future research and integrating multi-disciplinary conceptual models for the coupled multi-scale multi-physics behavior of mudrocks. Lastly, consistent conceptual models across disciplines are essential for predicting emergent processes in the subsurface, such as self-focusing of flow, time-dependent deformation (creep), fracture network development, and wellbore stability.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Non-linear tearing of 3D null point current sheets

The manner in which the rate of magnetic reconnection scales with the Lundquist number in realistic three-dimensional (3D) geometries is still an unsolved problem. It has been demonstrated that in 2D rapid non-linear tearing allows the reconnection rate to become almost independent of the Lundquist number (the “plasmoid instability”). Here, we present the first study of an analogous instability in a fully 3D geometry, defined by a magnetic null point. The 3D null current layer is found to be susceptible to an analogous instability but is marginally more stable than an equivalent 2D Sweet-Parker-like layer. Tearing of the sheet creates a thin boundary layer around the separatrix surface, contained within a flux envelope with a hyperbolic structure that mimics a spine-fan topology. Efficient mixing of flux between the two topological domains occurs as the flux rope structures created during the tearing process evolve within this envelope. This leads to a substantial increase in the rate of reconnection between the two domains.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Prospects of zero Schottky barrier height in a graphene-inserted MoS{sub 2}-metal interface

A low Schottky barrier height (SBH) at source/drain contact is essential for achieving high drive current in atomic layer MoS{sub 2}-channel-based field effect transistors. Approaches such as choosing metals with appropriate work functions and chemical doping are employed previously to improve the carrier injection from the contact electrodes to the channel and to mitigate the SBH between the MoS{sub 2} and metal. Recent experiments demonstrate significant SBH reduction when graphene layer is inserted between metal slab (Ti and Ni) and MoS{sub 2}. However, the physical or chemical origin of this phenomenon is not yet clearly understood. In this work, density functional theory simulations are performed, employing pseudopotentials with very high basis sets to get insights of the charge transfer between metal and monolayer MoS{sub 2} through the inserted graphene layer. Our atomistic simulations on 16 different interfaces involving five different metals (Ti, Ag, Ru, Au, and Pt) reveal that (i) such a decrease in SBH is not consistent among various metals, rather an increase in SBH is observed in case of Au and Pt; (ii) unlike MoS{sub 2}-metal interface, the projected dispersion of MoS{sub 2} remains preserved in any MoS{sub 2}-graphene-metal system with shift in the bands on the energy axis. (iii) A proper choice of metal (e.g., Ru) may exhibit ohmic nature in a graphene-inserted MoS{sub 2}-metal contact. These understandings would provide a direction in developing high-performance transistors involving heteroatomic layers as contact electrodes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Dynamics of spallation during femtosecond laser ablation studied by time-resolved reflectivity with double pump pulses

The dynamics of photomechanical spallation during femtosecond laser ablation of fused silica was studied by time-resolved reflectivity with double pump pulses. Oscillation of reflectivity was caused by interference between the probe pulses reflected at the sample surface and the spallation layer, and was enhanced when the surface was irradiated with the second pump pulse within a time interval, Δτ, of several picoseconds after the first pump pulse. However, as Δτ was increased, the oscillation amplitude decreased with an exponential decay time of 10 ps. The oscillation disappeared when Δτ exceeded 20 ps. This result suggests that the formation time of the spallation layer is approximately 10 ps. A second pump pulse with Δτ shorter than 10 ps excites the bulk sample. The spallation layer that is photo-excited by the first and second pump pulses is separated afterward. In contrast, a pulse with Δτ longer than the formation time excites and breaks up the spallation layer that has already been separated from the bulk. The formation time of the spallation layer, as determined in this experiment, is attributed to the characteristic time of the mechanical equilibration corresponding to the thickness divided by the sound velocity of the photo-excited layer.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Theory of multiple quantum dot formation in strained-layer heteroepitaxy

We develop a theory for the experimentally observed formation of multiple quantum dots (QDs) in strained-layer heteroepitaxy based on surface morphological stability analysis of a coherently strained epitaxial thin film on a crystalline substrate. Using a fully nonlinear model of surface morphological evolution that accounts for a wetting potential contribution to the epitaxial film's free energy as well as surface diffusional anisotropy, we demonstrate the formation of multiple QD patterns in self-consistent dynamical simulations of the evolution of the epitaxial film surface perturbed from its planar state. The simulation predictions are supported by weakly nonlinear analysis of the epitaxial film surface morphological stability. We find that, in addition to the Stranski-Krastanow instability, long-wavelength perturbations from the planar film surface morphology can trigger a nonlinear instability, resulting in the splitting of a single QD into multiple QDs of smaller sizes, and predict the critical wavelength of the film surface perturbation for the onset of the nonlinear tip-splitting instability. The theory provides a fundamental interpretation for the observations of “QD pairs” or “double QDs” and other multiple QDs reported in experimental studies of epitaxial growth of semiconductor strained layers and sets the stage for precise engineering of tunable-size nanoscale surface features in strained-layer heteroepitaxy by exploiting film surface nonlinear, pattern forming phenomena.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Defect structure of TiS{sub 3} single crystals of the A-ZrSe{sub 3} type

The defect structure of TiS{sub 3} single crystals of the A-ZrSe{sub 3} type has been determined based on X-ray diffraction data. Shear defects manifest themselves as displacements of ab layers (which can imitate a twin) by ∼0.5a. Regular shears facilitate the formation of a superstructure along the c axis. A model of defect in the layer structure is proposed to explain the atomic displacements at an angle to the layer plane.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗