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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 1,729 records · Page 96

Luminescent Properties of Activated Nanocomposites Based on Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Formulas for the rates of spontaneous radiative decay of excitation of luminescent centers located in subwavelength spherical core–shell nanoparticles and in the nanocomposite matrix are derived. Effective medium models and local field problems concerning the optical properties of activated nanocomposites based on core–shell nanoparticles are discussed. A detailed analysis of two modern approaches to the problem of spontaneous transitions in luminescent centers located in homogeneous spherical nanoparticles is made.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Elastic/viscoplastic behavior of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites

An elastic/viscoplastic constitutive model was used to characterize the nonlinear and rate dependent behavior of a continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite. This model was incorporated into a finite element program for the analysis of laminated plates and shells. Details on the finite element formulation with the proposed constitutive model were presented. The numerical results were compared with experimental data for uniaxial tension and three-point bending tests of (+ or - 45 deg)3s APC-2 laminates.

Wang, C.↗

Finite Element Modeling and Analysis of Mars Entry Aeroshell Baseline Concept

The structure that is developed and analyzed in this project must be able to survive all the various load conditions that it will encounter along its course to Mars with the minimal amount of weight and material. At this stage, the goal is to study the capability of the structure using a finite element model (FEM). This FEM is created using a python script, and is numerically solved in Nastran. The purpose of the model is to achieve an optimization of mass given specific constraints on launch and entry. The generation and analysis of the baseline Rigid Mid-Range Lift to Drag Ratio Aeroshell model is a continuation and an improvement on previous work done for the FEM. The model is generated using Python programming with the axisymmetric placement of nodes for beam and shell elements. The shells are assigned a honeycomb sandwich material with an aluminum honeycomb core and composite face sheets, and the beams are assigned the same material as the shell face sheets. There are two load cases assigned to the model: Earth launch and Mars entry. The Earth launch case consists of pressure, gravity, and vibration loads, and the Mars entry case consists of just pressure and gravity loads. The Earth launch case was determined to be the driving case, though the analyses are performed for both cases to ensure the constraints are satisfied. The types of analysis performed with the model are design optimization, statics, buckling, normal modes, and frequency response, the last of which is only for the Earth launch load case. The final results indicated that all of the requirements are satisfied except the thermal limits, which could not yet be tested, and the normal modes for the Mars entry. However, the frequency limits during Mars entry are expected to be much higher than the lower frequency limits set for the analysis. In addition, there are still improvements that can be made in order to reduce the weight while still meeting all requirements.

Ahmed, Samee W.↗

A higher-order theory for geometrically nonlinear analysis of composite laminates

A third-order shear deformation theory of laminated composite plates and shells is developed, the Navier solutions are derived, and its finite element models are developed. The theory allows parabolic description of the transverse shear stresses, and therefore the shear correction factors of the usual shear deformation theory are not required in the present theory. The theory also accounts for the von Karman nonlinear strains. Closed-form solutions of the theory for rectangular cross-ply and angle-ply plates and cross-ply shells are developed. The finite element model is based on independent approximations of the displacements and bending moments (i.e., mixed finite element model), and therefore, only C sup o -approximation is required. The finite element model is used to analyze cross-ply and angle-ply laminated plates and shells for bending and natural vibration. Many of the numerical results presented here should serve as references for future investigations. Three major conclusions resulted from the research: First, for thick laminates, shear deformation theories predict deflections, stresses and vibration frequencies significantly different from those predicted by classical theories. Second, even for thin laminates, shear deformation effects are significant in dynamic and geometrically nonlinear analyses. Third, the present third-order theory is more accurate compared to the classical and firt-order theories in predicting static and dynamic response of laminated plates and shells made of high-modulus composite materials.

Reddy, J. N.↗

Loading, electromyograph, and motion during exercise

A bicycle ergometer system has been developed to determine forces acting in specific muscles and muscle groups for both cycling and isometric exercise. The bicycle has been instrumented with encoders, accelerometers, and load cells. A harnessing system has been developed to keep subjects in place during isometric exercise. EMG data will also be collected with electrodes attached to various muscles on the subject's leg. Data has been collected for static loading and will be collected for cycling in both an earth-based laboratory and on the KC-135. Once the data is analyzed, the forces will be entered into finite element models of bones of the lower extremities. A finite element model of the tibia-fibula has been generated from the experimental subject's MRI data. The linear elastic isoparametric brick elements representing the bones are connected by linear elastic isoparametric shell elements placed at the locations of ligaments. Models will be generated for the calcaneus and the femur. Material properties for the various tissues will be taken from the literature. The experimentally determined muscle forces will be applied to the models to determine the stress distribution which is created in the bones.

Todd, Beth A.↗

Interlaminar stress analysis of dropped-ply laminated plates and shells by a mixed method

A mixed method of approximation based on Reissner's variational principle is developed for the linear analysis of interlaminar stresses in laminated composites, with special interest in laminates that contain terminated internal plies (dropped-ply laminates). Two models are derived, one for problems of generalized plane deformation and the other for the axisymmetric response of shells of revolution. A layerwise approach is taken in which the stress field is assumed with an explicit dependence on the thickness coordinate in each layer. The dependence of the stress field on the thickness coordinate is determined such that the three-dimensional equilibrium equations are satisfied by the approximation. The solution domain is reduced to one dimension by integration through the thickness. Continuity of tractions and displacements between layers is imposed. The governing two-point boundary value problem is composed of a system of both differential and algebraic equations (DAE's) and their associated boundary conditions. Careful evaluation of the system of DAE's was required to arrive at a form that allowed application of a one-step finite difference approximation. A two-stage Gauss implicit Runge-Kutta finite difference scheme was used for the solution because of its relatively high degree of accuracy. Patch tests of the two models revealed problems with solution accuracy for the axisymmetric model of a cylindrical shell loaded by internal pressure. Parametric studies of dropped-ply laminate characteristics and their influence on the interlaminar stresses were performed using the generalized plane deformation model. Eccentricity of the middle surface of the laminate through the ply drop-off was found to have a minimal effect on the interlaminar stresses under longitudinal compression, transverse tension, and in-plane shear. A second study found the stiffness change across the ply termination to have a much greater influence on the interlaminar stresses.

Harrison, Peter N.↗

Modeling the Magnetopause Shadowing Loss During the June 2015 Dropout Event

Fast dropout of relativistic and ultrarelativistic electrons at both high and low L* regions were observed during the intense coronal mass ejection driven storm in June 2015. An improved radial diffusion model, using an event-specific Last Closed Drift Shell (LCDS) and newly-available radial diffusion coefficients ( DD LL ), is implemented to simulate the magnetopause shadowing loss of electrons. The model captures the fast shadowing loss of electrons well at high L* regions after both interplanetary shocks, and reproduces the initial adiabatic loss of the high-energy storage ring at low L* regions after the second strong shock. In this paper, we show for the first time that using the event-specific and K-dependent LCDS and improved DD LL is critical to reproduce the observed dropout features, including the timing, location, and the butterfly electron pitch angle distribution. Future inclusion of the EMIC wave scattering process is needed to model the observed further depletion of the storage ring.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Analytical model of the structureborne interior noise induced by a propeller wake

The structure-borne contribution to the interior noise that is induced by the propeller wake acting on the wing was studied. Analytical models were developed to describe each aspect of this path including the excitation loads, the wing and fuselage structures, and the interior acoustic space. The emphasis is on examining a variety of parameters, and as a result different models were developed to examine specific parameters. The excitation loading on the wing by the propeller wake is modeled by a distribution of rotating potential vortices whose strength is related to the thrust per blade. The response of the wing to this loading is examined using beam models. A model of a beam structurally connected to a cylindrical shell with an internal acoustic fluid was developed to examine the coupling of energy from the wing to the interior space. The model of the acoustic space allows for arbitrary end conditions (e.g., rigid or vibrating end caps). Calculations are presented using these models to compare with a laboratory test configuration as well as for parameters of a prop-fan aircraft.

Junger, M. C.↗

Steady state asymmetric planetary electrical induction

An analytic solution is presented for the steady state electric and magnetic fields induced by the motional electric field of the solar wind in the atmosphere or interior of a planet that is asymmetrically surrounded by solar wind plasma. The electrically conducting ionosphere or interior must be in direct electrical contact with the solar wind over the day side of the planet. The conducting region of the planet is modeled by a sphere or a spherical shell of arbitrarily stratified electrical conductivity. A monoconducting cylindrical cavity is assumed to extend downstream on the night side of the planet. The solar wind is assumed to be highly conducting so that the induced fields are confined to the planet and cavity. Induced currents close as sheet currents at the solar wind-cavity and solar wind-planet interfaces. Numerical evaluations of the analytic formulas are carried out for a uniformly conducting spherical model.

Horning, B. L.↗

Analysis of shell-type structures subjected to time-dependent mechanical and thermal loading

This research is performed to develop a general mathematical model and solution methodologies for analyzing structural response of thin, metallic shell-type structures under large transient, cyclic or static thermomechanical loads. Among the system responses, which are associated with these load conditions, are thermal buckling, creep buckling, and ratcheting. Thus, geometric as well as material-type nonlinearities (of high order) can be anticipated and must be considered in the development of the mathematical model. Furthermore, this must also be accommodated in the solution procedures.

Simitses, G. J.↗

Constraints on the off-shell Higgs boson signal strength in the high-mass ZZ and WW final states with the ATLAS detector

The measurements of the ZZ and WW final states in the mass range above the \(2m_Z\) and \(2m_W\) thresholds provide a unique opportunity to measure the off-shell coupling strength of the Higgs boson. This paper presents constraints on the off-shell Higgs boson event yields normalised to the Standard Model prediction (signal strength) in the \(ZZ \rightarrow 4\ell \), \(ZZ\rightarrow 2\ell 2\nu \) and \(WW\rightarrow e\nu \mu \nu \) final states. The result is based on pp collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb\(^{-1}\) at a collision energy of \(\sqrt{s}=8\) TeV. Using the \(CL_s\) method, the observed 95 \(\%\) confidence level (CL) upper limit on the off-shell signal strength is in the range 5.1–8.6, with an expected range of 6.7–11.0. In each case the range is determined by varying the unknown \(gg\rightarrow ZZ\) and \(gg\rightarrow WW\) background K-factor from higher-order quantum chromodynamics corrections between half and twice the value of the known signal K-factor. Assuming the relevant Higgs boson couplings are independent of the energy scale of the Higgs boson production, a combination with the on-shell measurements yields an observed (expected) 95 \(\%\) CL upper limit on \(\Gamma _H/\Gamma _H^{\mathrm {SM}}\) in the range 4.5–7.5 (6.5–11.2) using the same variations of the background K-factor. Assuming that the unknown \(gg\rightarrow VV\) background K-factor is equal to the signal K-factor, this translates into an observed (expected) 95 \(\%\) CL upper limit on the Higgs boson total width of 22.7 (33.0) MeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The computer in shell stability analysis

Some examples in which the high-speed computer has been used to improve the static stability analysis capability for general shells are examined. The fundamental concepts of static stability are reviewed with emphasis on the differences between linear bifurcation buckling and nonlinear collapse. The analysis is limited to the stability of conservative systems. Three examples are considered. The problem of cylinders subjected to bending loads is used as an example to illustrate that a simple structure can have a sufficiently complicated nonlinear behavior to require a computer analysis for accurate results. An analysis of the problems involved in the modeling of stiffening elements in plate and shell structures illustrates the necessity that the analyst recognizes all important deformation modes. The stability analysis of the Skylab structure indicates the size of problems that can be solved with current state-of-the-art capability.

Almroth, B. O.↗

Theoretical studies of the infrared emission from circumstellar dust shells - The infrared characteristics of circumstellar silicates and the mass-loss rate of oxygen-rich late-type giants

A simple analytic formula and a numerical radiative transfer program have been used to model the IR emission of spherically symmetric circumstellar dust shells in order to determine the IR absorption properties of circumstellar silicate grains and the mass-loss rates of the central stars. The correlation between the near-IR color temperature and the strength of the 10-micron emission or absorption feature is discussed, and it is shown that the near-IR absorption efficiency of circumstellar silicate grains is much higher than is expected from terrestrial minerals, possibly due to the presence of Fe(2+) color centers dissolved in the circumstellar silicates. Detailed models of the IR emission of R Cas, IRC 10011, and OH 26.5+0.6 are presented.

Schutte, W. A.↗

SAPNEW: Parallel finite element code for thin shell structures on the Alliant FX-80

The finite element method has proven to be an invaluable tool for analysis and design of complex, high performance systems, such as bladed-disk assemblies in aircraft turbofan engines. However, as the problem size increase, the computation time required by conventional computers can be prohibitively high. Parallel processing computers provide the means to overcome these computation time limits. This report summarizes the results of a research activity aimed at providing a finite element capability for analyzing turbomachinery bladed-disk assemblies in a vector/parallel processing environment. A special purpose code, named with the acronym SAPNEW, has been developed to perform static and eigen analysis of multi-degree-of-freedom blade models built-up from flat thin shell elements. SAPNEW provides a stand alone capability for static and eigen analysis on the Alliant FX/80, a parallel processing computer. A preprocessor, named with the acronym NTOS, has been developed to accept NASTRAN input decks and convert them to the SAPNEW format to make SAPNEW more readily used by researchers at NASA Lewis Research Center.

Kamat, Manohar P.↗

Precision mass measurement of lightweight self-conjugate nucleus 80 Zr

Protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus move in shells analogous to the electronic shell structures of atoms. The nuclear shell structure varies due to changes of the nuclear mean field with the number of neutrons N and protons Z, and these variations can be probed by measuring mass differences between nuclei. The N=Z=40 self-conjugate nucleus 80 Zr is of particular interest as its proton and neutron shell structures are expected to be very similar, and its ground state is highly deformed. Here, we provide evidence for the existence of a deformed double shell closure in 80Zr through high precision Penning trap mass measurements of 80-83 Zr. Our mass values show that 80Zr is significantly lighter, and thus more strongly bound than predicted. This can be attributed to the deformed shell closure at N=Z=40 and the large Wigner energy. A statistical Bayesian model mixing analysis employing several global nuclear mass models demonstrates difficulties with reproducing the observed mass anomaly using current theory.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Chaotic, subduction-like downflows in a spherical model of convection in the earth's mantle

Model calculations are described for a compressible fluid in a three-dimensional spherical shell with 80 percent of the surface heat flow generated within the model mantle. The numerical solutions are strongly chaotic, with surface planforms dominated by long curvilinear downflows reminiscent of the descending slabs in the earth's mantle. The results suggest that descending slabs play an important part in driving mantle convection, and that their chaotic evolution may influence the spatial and temporal behavior of plates and thus the dispersal and aggregation of continents.

Glatzmaier, Gary A.↗

Quantum Molecular Charge-Transfer Model for Multistep Auger–Meitner Decay Cascade Dynamics

The fragmentation of molecular cations following inner-shell decay processes in molecules containing heavy elements underpins the X-ray damage effects observed in X-ray scattering measurements of biological and chemical materials, as well as in medical applications involving Auger electron-emitting radionuclides. Traditionally, these processes are modeled using simulations that describe the electronic structure at an atomic level, thereby omitting molecular bonding effects. This work addresses the gap by introducing a novel approach that couples Auger–Meitner decay to nuclear dynamics across multiple decay steps, by developing a decay spawning dynamics algorithm and applying it to potential energy surfaces characterized with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. We showcase the approach on a model decay cascade following K-shell ionization of IBr and subsequent Kβ fluorescence decay. We examine two competing channels that undergo two decay steps, resulting in ion pairs with a total 3+ charge state. This approach provides a continuous description of the electron transfer dynamics occurring during the multistep decay cascade and molecular fragmentation, revealing the combined inner-shell decay and charge transfer time scale to be approximately 75 fs. In conclusion, our computed kinetic energies of ion fragments show good agreement with experimental data.

Ab initio molecular dynamics↗

From Spin to Pseudospin Symmetry: The Origin of Magic Numbers in Nuclear Structure

Magic numbers lie at the heart of nuclear structure, reflecting enhanced stability in nuclei with closed shells. While the emergence of magic numbers beyond 20 is commonly attributed to strong spin-orbit coupling, the microscopic origin of the spin-orbit potential remains elusive, owing to its dependence on the resolution scale and renormalization scheme of nuclear forces. Here, we investigate the evolution of nuclear shell structure with varying momentum resolution in nuclear interactions derived from chiral effective field theory, using the similarity renormalization group to link different scales. We uncover a novel transition from spin symmetry to pseudospin symmetry as the resolution scale decreases, during which magic numbers emerge naturally. A similar pattern is found in calculations using relativistic one-boson-exchange potentials, underscoring the robustness of the phenomenon. This establishes a direct connection between realistic nuclear forces with a high resolution scale and effective nuclear forces at coarse-grained scales, offering a first-principles explanation for the origin of magic numbers and pseudospin symmetry in nuclear shell structure and new insights into the structure of exotic nuclei far from stability

Energy levels↗