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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 1,693 records · Page 94
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Modeling the effects of dust-radiative forcing on the movement of Hurricane Helene (2006)

This study is the first to relate Saharan dust and tropical cyclone (TC) movement over the eastern and central Atlantic Ocean (ECAO) using observations and modeling. An eastward position forecast bias for TCs over ECAO has been noticed and is potentially related to the neglect of dust-radiative forcing in numerical models. Using 11-year observations we found that aerosol optical depth and TC westward speed over ECAO are correlated (0.62) with a confidence level of 99%. The Weather Research and Forecasting dust model was used to quantitatively study the impact of the dust-radiative forcing on Helene’s (2006) track forecasts with 3 different microphysics schemes. The dust-radiative forcing increases the temperature in the warm Saharan Air Layer, thus increases the temperature gradient and modifies wind speed and/or direction along the southern flank of the dust plume, improving Helene’s track. Including dust-radiative forcing reduces the error in 7-day position forecasts by 27% (~205km).

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Understanding the vertical structure of potential vorticity in tropical depressions

Here, potential vorticity (PV) has been used to understand the intensification and motion of a variety of tropical vortices. In this work, atmospheric reanalyses and idealized models are used to understand how the vertical structures of moist convective heating and adiabatic advection jointly shape the vertical structures of PV in tropical depressions. Observationally based estimates reveal a top-heavy PV structure in tropical depressions, contrasting with bottom-heavy structures of absolute vorticity and diabatic PV generation. These distinct vertical structures are reproduced in an axisymmetric model which employs the weak temperature gradient approximation for conceptual simplicity and is forced by stratiform and deep convective heating. When provided in isolation, the stratiform and deep convective heatings produce PV maxima at 500 hPa and near the surface, respectively. When these two heatings are applied simultaneously, interactions between the stratiform and deep convective modes enhance the adiabatic advective tendencies produced by the transverse circulation, making the PV distribution more top-heavy. In the lower and middle troposphere, radial advection also greatly reduces the radius of the PV structure relative to that of the imposed heating, consistent with structures in observed tropical depressions; the implications of these differences in radial structures for using the flux form of the relevant conservation equations (e.g. for PV substance or absolute vorticity) are discussed.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Future of Rice Crop Under Enriched CO2 Environment

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the second largest cereal crop produced globally, with a worldwide production of about 720 million metric tons in recent years and contributing toward for 20% of the global calorie intake. The growing condition of rice is extreme such as high vs. low temperature and high vs. low level of CO2 concentration [CO2]. Given CO2 is a key substrate for photosynthesis, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 dominantly influences the growth and yield of rice crop. The main component of rice is the kernel (~90%) which is starch, and the composition and behavior of starch are greatly impacted by environmental drivers including temperature, CO2, and water. Therefore, it is important to understand the variation in production and yield of rice under the elevated [CO2]. Here, we discussed the impacts of elevated [CO2] on the quality and quantity of rice production under current and future climatic conditions. We have discussed the response of rice crops under elevated [CO2] and its interaction with several other biophysical drivers including air temperature, ozone concentration, soil water content, and genotype in various experimental approaches, viz., free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE), open top chambers (OTC), growth chambers, and temperature gradient tunnels. Overall, elevated [CO2] stimulated photosynthesis and production of rice on a short-term, but the long-term effects of elevated [CO2] on the quality and quantity of rice production is yet to be resolved and need some attention with respect to various environmental constraints.

Dari, Biswanath↗
DOE OSTI2014

Tropical Pacific response to continental ice sheet topography

The last glacial maximum was marked by maximum land ice extent and lowest greenhouse gases concentration during the last ice age. We investigate the effect of glacial continental ice sheet topography on the large-scale tropical ocean–atmosphere climate, in particular the tropical Pacific, in an intermediate complexity coupled model. Increasing the thickness of continental ice sheets causes a southward displaced Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and a strengthening (weakening) of northern (southern) hemisphere winter Hadley cell. The equatorial zonal sea surface temperature gradient weakened with an increased continental ice sheets thickness, the reduction being caused by cooling in the western equatorial Pacific and warming in the eastern equatorial Pacific. The evolution of the tropical climate with changing ice thickness has distinct quasi-linear and nonlinear parts. While the linear part is a direct response to the ice topographic changes, the nonlinear part was a finding of the tropical thermocline adjustment. Our analysis of a fully-coupled transient deglacial simulation strongly indicates the dominant role of ice sheet topography in determining the deglacial evolution of the simulated Pacific climate. The thickness of continental ice sheet, separate from ice albedo effect, has significant impact on the tropical ocean–atmosphere climate in particular with the meridional displacement in the Pacific ITCZ. The altered circulation states seen in the model may aid understanding of the relationship between tropical and high-latitude climate records in glacial-interglacial cycles.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

South Asian monsoon precipitation in CMIP5: a link between inter-model spread and the representations of tropical convection

CMIP5 models exhibit a mean dry bias and a large inter-model spread in simulating Indian monsoon precipitation but the origins of the bias and spread have not been well understood. Using moisture and energy budget analysis that exploits the weak temperature gradients in the tropics, we show that they are linked to the convection simulated over the equatorial Indian Ocean. About half of the 21 models analyzed operate at the steep gradient of the non-linear relationship between the normalized precipitable water and normalized precipitation, where small differences in the former are amplified as large differences in precipitation. These models preferentially produce higher precipitation over the equatorial Indian Ocean, and contribute disproportionately to the inter-model spread and multi-model mean dry bias in monsoon precipitation. Conversely, models on the flat side of the relationship are in better agreement with each other and with observations. Under the RCP8.5 forcing scenario, models on the steep part of the relationship project stronger response to warming and dominate the inter-model spread in the projection. This study identified the normalized precipitable water as a key metric for understanding the behavior of model simulated equatorial and Indian monsoon precipitation.

Hagos, Samson (ORCID:0000000175919933)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Anthropogenic influences on the African easterly jet–African easterly wave system

The African easterly jet (AEJ) and African easterly waves (AEWs) can have both local and far-reaching impacts on weather. It is therefore crucial to understand how the AEJ and AEWs will respond to future climate change. In this study, we examine anthropogenic influences on the AEJ–AEW system using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model configured as a tropical channel model (TCM). Hindcast simulations for the years 2001–2010 were performed using the WRF TCM, and ten additional years of simulations were performed using the pseudo-global warming method with the initial and boundary conditions of the model modified as if it were the late twenty-first century. A comparison of the simulations from the two climate scenarios indicates robust changes to both the AEJ and AEWs. For the AEJ, the jet is weaker and shifted northwards and upwards in the future climate, in association with an increase in precipitation over the Sahel and a strengthening of the meridional temperature gradient. For the AEWs, there is an increase in the number and strength of the waves in the future climate, in association with an increase in the baroclinic and barotropic energy conversions. Here, the barotropic energy conversion in particular has a larger contribution in the future climate, which manifests in the southern AEW track experiencing greater future strengthening than the northern track.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Coupled Processes Modeling in Rock Salt and Crushed Salt Including Halite Solubility Constraints: Application to Disposal of Heat-Generating Nuclear Waste

This work presents numerical modeling of coupled thermal, hydraulic and mechanical processes in rock salt and crushed salt considering halite solubility constraints. The TOUGH-FLAC simulator is used, with a recently enhanced Equation-Of-State module that includes the thermodynamic properties of aqueous fluids of variable salinity. Laboratory and field scale tests performed on rock salt and crushed salt under temperature gradients are modeled first to evaluate the capabilities of the simulator to reproduce important features, such as porosity changes induced by halite dissolution/precipitation, and brine and heat migration. Since the results are quite satisfactory, the simulator is used to predict the long-term response of a generic salt repository for heat-generating nuclear waste. To evaluate the impacts of halite solubility on the predictions, two simulations that respectively consider or neglect solubility constraints are performed. In the scenario studied, the results are not significantly affected by dissolution/precipitation, and only some differences are observed due to changes in porosity, but the dominating processes remain the same. Finally, with the new provisions, TOUGH-FLAC is more complete in terms of processes occurring around a heat-releasing nuclear waste package and can therefore provide more accurate predictions of the long-term performance of a nuclear waste repository in salt formations.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2019

Effect of Naturally Deposited Film on the Sub-rapid Solidification of Medium Manganese Steel by Using Droplet Solidification Technique

In this study, the effect of naturally deposited film on the interfacial heat transfer during the sub-rapid solidification of medium manganese steel was studied by means of a droplet solidification technique. The heat transfer rates were calculated by the Inverse Heat Conduction Program (IHCP), through computing the responding temperatures’ gradient inside the cooling mold. The results showed that the contact angle between the mold and solidified droplet becomes lower (from 117.539 to 82.217 deg) with the repeat of the dropping tests, which means the wettability improves after the deposition of the natural film. Meanwhile the liquid time (the time from the start of ejection to the initiation of solidification) decreases from 1.76 to 1.28 seconds during the tests, suggesting that the steel keeps in the liquid state shorter. Therefore, the initiation of solidification is advanced, such that there would be less time for matching the scale of the shell and the mold. Consequently, the maximum heat flux increases from 2.90 to 6.35 MW/m{sup 2} with the deposition of the natural film, as the wettability is getting better leading to the reduction of the interfacial thermal resistance. However, the final maximum heat flux was decreasing to 4.98 MW/m{sup 2} due to the increased thickness of the film and corresponding interfacial thermal resistance. Moreover, it was found that the secondary dendrite arm spacing decreased from 10.84 to 5.01 μm at first, and then it increased to 8.11 μm with the variations of heat flux and cooling rate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Experimental and Mathematical Simulation Study on the Granulation of a Modified Basic Oxygen Furnace Steel Slag

Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steel slag is a major waste of the steelmaking industry. Utilization of BOF slag contributes to the sustainability of the steel industry by alleviating its environmental impact. Vitrification during cooling is an effective method to promote the cementitious activity of slags with the aim to apply slags in high value-added applications. In the present study, an Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}- and SiO{sub 2}-modified BOF slag was water granulated at a pilot scale. The amorphous and mineral fractions were measured quantitatively. The critical cooling rate to vitrify the modified slag was calculated through the Time-Temperature-Transformation diagrams constructed using in situ confocal scanning laser microscopy. To provide an insight into the crystallization behavior during the granulation process, a mathematical model was developed. The model was validated by comparing the amorphous fraction obtained from experiments with that from simulation. Temperature profiles of the slag particles with varied sizes were calculated with the aid of COMSOL Multiphysics software. The effect of particle size on the vitrified fraction was discussed in detail and the temperature gradient from surface to center of the particle was identified. The results provide novel fundamental understanding of the vitrification process regarding to the slag valorization, which will help the industrial implementation of granulation for pollution remediation and other engineered environmental systems such as chemical industry and pharmaceutical industry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

High-Temperature High-Efficiency Solar Thermoelectric Generators

Inspired by recent high-efficiency thermoelectric modules, we consider thermoelectrics for terrestrial applications in concentrated solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs). The STEG is modeled as two subsystems: a TEG, and a solar absorber that efficiently captures the concentrated sunlight and limits radiative losses from the system. The TEG subsystem is modeled using thermoelectric compatibility theory; this model does not constrain the material properties to be constant with temperature. Considering a three-stage TEG based on current record modules, this model suggests that 18% efficiency could be experimentally expected with a temperature gradient of 1000A degrees C to 100A degrees C. Achieving 15% overall STEG efficiency thus requires an absorber efficiency above 85%, and we consider two methods to achieve this: solar-selective absorbers and thermally insulating cavities. When the TEG and absorber subsystem models are combined, we expect that the STEG modeled here could achieve 15% efficiency with optical concentration between 250 and 300 suns.

NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense ↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Influence of Residual Stress on Fatigue Crack Growth Rates in Stainless Steel Processed by Different Additive Manufacturing Methods

The properties and microstructure of Type 304L stainless steel produced by two additive manufacturing (AM) methods—directed energy deposition (DED) and powder bed fusion (PBF)—are evaluated and compared. Localized heating and steep temperature gradients of AM processes lead to significant residual stress and distinctive microstructures, which may be process-specific and influence mechanical behavior. Test data show that materials produced by DED and PDF have small differences in tensile strengths but clear differences in residual stress and microstructural features. Measured fatigue crack growth rates (FCGRs) for cracks propagating parallel to and perpendicular to the build directions differ between the two AM materials. To separate the influences of residual stress and microstructure, K-control test procedures with decreasing and constant stress intensity factor ranges are used to measure FCGRs in the near-threshold regime (crack growth rates ≤ 1 × 10 −8 m/cycle). Residual stress is quantified by the residual stress intensity factor, K res , measured by the online crack compliance method. Correcting the FCGR data for differences in K res brings results for specimens of the two AM materials into agreement with each other and with results for wrought specimens, when the latter are corrected for crack closure. Differences in microstructure and tensile strength have an insignificant influence on FCGRs in these tests.

additive manufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2013

A Successful Synthesis of the CoCrFeNiAl0.3 Single-Crystal, High-Entropy Alloy by Bridgman Solidification

For the first time, a face-centered-cubic, single-crystal CoCrFeNiAl{sub 0.3} (designated as Al0.3), high-entropy alloy (HEA) was successfully synthesized by the Bridgman solidification (BS) method, at an extremely low withdrawal velocity through a constant temperature gradient, for which it underwent two BS steps. Specially, at the first BS step, the alloy sample underwent several morphological transitions accompanying the crystal growth from the melt. This microstructure evolves from as-cast dendrites, to equiaxed grains, and then to columnar crystals, and last to the single crystal. In particular, at the equiaxed-grain region, some visible annealing twins were observed, which indicates a low stacking fault energy of the Al0.3 alloy. Although a body-centered- cubic CoCrFeNiAl (Al1) HEA was also prepared under the same conditions, only a single columnar-crystal structure with instinctively preferential crystallographic orientations was obtained by the same procedure. A similar morphological transition from dendrites to equiaxed grains occurred at the equiaxed-grain region in Al1 alloy, but the annealing twins were not observed probably because a higher Al addition leads to a higher stacking fault energy for this alloy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Grain Structure Evolution in Fe-6Si During Directed Energy Deposition

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of additive manufacturing (AM) process variables on the grain structure of Fe-6Si, a soft-magnetic alloy used in electrical machine and grid applications. Samples were fabricated with laser engineered net shaping (LENS) with varying inter-pass timing and numbers of unidirectional passes. Here the results show that the grain structure was affected by both solidification and solid-state grain growth mechanisms. A model of the LENS process suggests that, although shorter inter-pass times encourage greater nucleation of new grains and therefore grain refinement during solidification, these conditions also help maintain high solid-state temperatures that allow for grain boundary motion to keep pace with the build rate. Grains formed under these conditions may span multiple layers, and the high-temperature gradient promotes directional growth. This new understanding of these microstructure evolution mechanisms will aid in using process conditions to control the competition between solidification and solid-state grain growth to create grain structures that may not be possible with conventional processing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Numerical modeling of heat-transfer and the influence of process parameters on tailoring the grain morphology of IN718 in electron beam additive manufacturing

The fabrication of 3-D parts from CAD models by additive manufacturing (AM) is a disruptive technology that is transforming the metal manufacturing industry. The correlation between solidification microstructure and mechanical properties has been well understood in the casting and welding processes over the years. This paper focuses on extending these principles to additive manufacturing to understand the transient phenomena of repeated melting and solidification during electron beam powder melting process to achieve site-specific microstructure control within a fabricated component. In this paper, we have developed a novel melt scan strategy for electron beam melting of nickel-base superalloy (Inconel 718) and also analyzed 3-D heat transfer conditions using a parallel numerical solidification code (Truchas) developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The spatial and temporal variations of temperature gradient (G) and growth velocity (R) at the liquid-solid interface of the melt pool were calculated as a function of electron beam parameters. By manipulating the relative number of voxels that lie in the columnar or equiaxed region, the crystallographic texture of the components can be controlled to an extent. The analysis of the parameters provided optimum processing conditions that will result in columnar to equiaxed transition (CET) during the solidification. Furthermore, the results from the numerical simulations were validated by experimental processing and characterization thereby proving the potential of additive manufacturing process to achieve site-specific crystallographic texture control within a fabricated component.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Grain growth competition during thin-sample directional solidification of dendritic microstructures: A phase-field study

Here we present the results of a comprehensive phase-field study of columnar grain growth competition in bi-crystalline samples in two dimensions (2D) and in three dimensions (3D) for small sample thicknesses allowing a single row of dendrites to form. We focus on the selection of grain boundary (GB) orientation during directional solidification in the steady-state dendritic regime, and study its dependence upon the orientation of two competing grains. In 2D, we map the entire orientation range for both grains, performing several simulations for each configuration to account for the stochasticity of GB orientation selection and to assess the average GB behavior. We find that GB orientation selection depends strongly on whether the primary dendrite growth directions have lateral components (i.e. components perpendicular to the axis of the temperature gradient) that point in the same or opposite directions in the two grains. Here, we identify a range of grain orientations in which grain selection follows the classical description of Walton and Chalmers. We also identify conditions that favor unusual overgrowth of favorably-oriented dendrites at a converging GB. We propose a simple analytical description that reproduces the average GB orientation selection from 2D simulations within statistical fluctuations of a few degrees. In 3D, we find a similar GB orientation selection as in 2D when secondary branches grow in planes parallel and perpendicular to the sample walls. Remarkably, quasi-2D behavior is also observed even when those perpendicular sidebranching planes are rotated by a finite azimuthal angle about the primary dendrite growth axis as long as the absolute values of those azimuthal angles are equal in both grains. In contrast, when the absolute values of those azimuthal angles differ markedly, we find that unusual overgrowth events at a converging GB are promoted by a high azimuthal angle in the least-favorably-oriented grain. We also find that diverging GBs can be strongly affected by those azimuthal angles, while converging GBs exhibit a weak dependence on those angles. Finally, for diverging GBs, GB orientation is also strongly affected by the relative signs of the lateral components of the primary dendrite growth directions in both grains.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Building blocks for a digital twin of additive manufacturing

Properties and serviceability of additively manufactured components are affected by their geometry, microstructure and defects. These important attributes are now optimized by trial and error because the essential process variables cannot currently be selected from scientific principles. A recourse is to build and rigorously validate a digital twin of the additive manufacturing process that can provide accurate predictions of the spatial and temporal variations of metallurgical parameters that affect the structure and properties of components. Key building blocks of a computationally efficient first-generation digital twin of laser-based directed energy deposition additive manufacturing utilize a transient, three-dimensional model that calculates temperature and velocity fields, cooling rates, solidification parameters and deposit geometry. The measured profiles of stainless steel 316L and Alloy 800H deposits as well as the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) and Vickers hardness measurements are used to validate the proposed digital twin. The predicted cooling rates, temperature gradients, solidification rates, SDAS and micro-hardness values are shown to be more accurate than those obtained from a commonly used heat conduction calculation. Finally, these metallurgical building blocks serve as a phenomenological framework for the development of a digital twin that will make the expanding knowledge base of additive manufacturing usable in a practical way for all scientists and engineers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Multiscale investigation of thermomechanical and compositional developments in Ni alloy 718 under laser processing

Laser processing has been widely employed in various applications due to its exceptional spatial resolution. However, the rapid temperature gradients generated in localized areas present significant challenges for experimental characterization using conventional instruments. To characterize Ni alloy 718 during laser processing, we employed in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction with a high-speed detector, a method particularly well-suited for probing processes with high temporal and spatial resolution. Through a series of in-situ experiments, we investigated the local variations in the evolution of microstructures and thermomechanical behaviors within a keyhole mode melt pool. The in situ macroscopic thermomechanical behaviors were quantified using an empirical model derived from diffraction patterns, with experimental results showing reasonable agreement with finite element analysis. Various laser parameters were tested to assess their influences on the residual strains in the melt pools. The results revealed that the residual strain in the keyhole mode melt pool is relatively insensitive to variations in the parameters and is smaller than that in the melt pool created under conduction mode laser scanning. Additionally, we analyzed the shapes of individual diffraction spots, providing insights into the plastic behaviors and compositional developments in the resolidified alloy. The analysis confirmed that compositional variations in a dendritic microstructure manifest as asymmetric broadening of the diffraction spots.

Ni alloy 718↗