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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 181 records · Page 10

Determination of Constraint-Independent Crack Tip Opening Angle for Stable Crack Growth in High-Strength Ductile Steels

The crack tip opening angle (CTOA) is one of fracture toughness parameters that has been used for decades in describing large stable crack growth in thin-walled aerospace structures under the low-constraint conditions. Recently, the pipeline industry has developed a growing interest in using the CTOA parameter to serve as the minimum required fracture toughness to arrest dynamic crack propagation in modern gas transmission pipelines made of high-strength ductile steel. To meet this industrial need, the CTOA test standard ASTM E3039 was therefore developed for measuring the constant critical CTOA. ASTM E3039 recommends a drop weight tearing test (DWTT) specimen with a shallow crack for standard CTOA testing, but its CTOA may depend on the low constraint condition of the DWTT specimen at the crack tip. Verifying the constraint independence of the DWTT-measured CTOA thus becomes indispensable for applying CTOA toughness to the running fracture control in the pipeline design. For this purpose, the present paper evaluates critical CTOA values in a set of fracture toughness tests on single-edge notched bend (SENB) specimens with shallow and deep cracks, based on four CTOA estimation models. Among these, the Ln(P)-LLD linear fit model is similar to that recommended by ASTM E3039 for CTOA calculation. Fracture test data for X80 pipeline steel and HY80 structural steel were considered in the CTOA evaluation. The results showed that the four CTOA models were able to determine a constraint independent CTOA value for stable crack growth in the SENB specimens. As a result, a single, reliable, constant CTOA value could be determined regardless of the specimen geometry or the crack-tip constraint conditions. Therefore, the CTOA measured using ASTM E3039 is constraint-independent and transferable to use in cases of actual cracks propagating in gas transmission pipelines.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characteristic temperatures of the Mossbauer fraction and thermal-shift measurements in iron and iron salts.

Measurement of Mossbauer spectra in metallic iron, sodium nitroprusside, sodium ferrocyanide, and potassium ferrocyanide absorbers between 78 and 293 K. The temperature dependences of the Mossbauer fraction and the resonant velocity were fitted to Einstein and Debye lattice-vibration models. The characteristic temperatures of the models fitted to the Mossbauer fraction are consistently lower than those fitted to the resonant velocity showing the sensitivity of the Mossbauer fraction to low-frequency modes of vibration. The characteristic temperatures obtained from the resonant velocity are higher for the salts than for the metal, indicating the presence of higher-frequency modes in the salts. This interpretation is verified semiquantitatively by comparing the thermal-shift Debye temperatures of the salts to their infrared absorption frequencies. The Mossbauer fraction of potassium ferrocyanide shows a weaker temperature dependence than that expected for a harmonic solid, which suggests that potassium ferrocyanide is anharmonic in the temperature range studied.

Lafleur, L. D.↗

Time-dependent mapping of the magnetic field at the core-mantle boundary

We consider the problem of constructing a time-dependent map of the magnetic field at the core-mantle boundary. We use almost all the available data from the last 300 years to produce two maps, one for the period 1690-1840 and the other for 1840-1990. We represent the spatial dependency of the field using spherical harmonics, the time dependency using a cubic B-spline basis, and seek the smoothest solutions compatible with the observations. We argue that, for observations from permanent magnetic observatories, the most efficient strategy is to use the first differences of annual means; for satellite data, the most efficient strategy is simply to limit the number of data used so as to minimize any tendency to map the crustal field into the core field. The resulting model fits the observatory data better than any previous model. The resulting time-dependent field map exhibits much of the same structure in the field and its secular variation identified in earlier studies.

Bloxham, Jeremy↗

First Principle based Thermal Conductivity Modeling of Metal Alloys with Applications on Uranium Alloys

Thermal conductivity is an important materials property related to heat transport, which is essential to many applications, ranging from thermoelectrics to nuclear reactor materials. High- quality thermal conductivity data is critical to these materials and their associated technologies, including the nuclear fuel materials like traditional oxide fuels and metallic uranium (U) fuels, e.g. U-Zr and U-Mo alloys. And thermal conductivity modeling is widely used to interpolate or extrapolate experimental data, to obtain high-quality thermal conductivity data over wide temperature and composition range, and to understand the impacts of different factors including defects and microstructures. However, a general thermal conductivity model for metal alloys which can work regrading different phase components is still missing. Also, for U alloys, a thermal conductivity model working with different phases is needed. Therefore, in this work, we developed thermal conductivity models for metal alloys, based on ab-initio calculations, semi-classical physics rules, and limited experimental data. The goals of these models are to help obtain high- quality thermal conductivity data within a little experimental input as possible, have models that are extendable to varying microstructures, including different types of irradiation effects, and provide mechanistic understanding of heat transfer in the modeled alloys. In this work, our model solves several challenges in the development. The DFT-BTE approach is applied to decrease the reliance on experimental data and make the model extendable to composition changes and defects. A practical and efficient way to combine the DFT inputs with physics rules is pointed out in this work too. A staged approach, which starts from simple cases of elemental metals, then extends to solid solutions, different compound phases, and multi-phase mixtures, is presented to work with the metal alloys in different phase components. Our models are demonstrated respectively on aU for elemental metal model, on U-Zr and U-Mo alloys in aU temperature range for multi-phase mixture model, on high-temperature U-Zr, U-Nb, and U-Mo alloys in the body-centered cubic phase for concentrated solid solution model, and on irradiated U-Mo alloys for irradiated metal alloy model. All models show great agreement with experimental data. In these demonstrations, our model shows its advantages compared to previous empirical fitting model. Our model requires fewer experimental data, due to the inputs from DFT. The quantitative insights into the different physical factors are provided in our model, as it incorporates the electron and phonon scattering mechanisms. Our model also can be extended to incorporate the contributions of point defects, grain boundaries, and noble gas bubbles, to integrate their effects on heat transfer. This model can serve as both a foundation for understanding the more complex thermal conductivity of realistic U alloy fuels and a useful tool to guide further modeling of thermal conductivity to aid materials and device design.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Low-energy X-ray line emission from IC 443

HEAO 1 observations of the spectrum of the supernova remnant IC 443 in the energy range of 0.4-3 keV reveal the presence of a complex structure suggestive of emission from Fe XVIII-XX, S XV-XVI, and Si XIII-XIV ions. The best electron temperature in the band for simple model fits is about (6-11) x 10 to the 6th K. Raymond and Smith collisional equilibrium emission models do not adequately fit the data. These results are discussed in terms of possible nonequilibrium effects in the remnant.

Charles, P. A.↗

On the use of V/V(max) for gamma-ray bursts

As applied to the BATSE observations, the V/V(max) test has shown definitively that gamma-ray bursts are not distributed homogeneously. It is shown that variations in the detection threshold smooth the distribution of V/V(max) values, and consequently this distribution should not be used to determine the nature of the source inhomogeneity. Models fitted to the V/V(max) distribution assuming a constant detection threshold are quantitatively incorrect; the true source density has a more extreme radial decrease than previously found. Models should be fitted to the observed distribution of peak burst photon fluxes corrected for detection incompleteness.

Band, David↗

U-band CCD surface brightness profiles for candidate collapsed-core globular clusters

We have determined U-band CCD surface brightness profiles for 15 of the 21 globular clusters that have been characterized as having 'collapsed' cores by Djorgovski and King (1986). We have fitted these profiles with two types of seeing-convolved models: single-mass King models and power laws. We find that in many cases the characterization of a profile as being either 'King' or 'cusp' is somewhat subtle. Of the clusters in our sample, 10 appear to have central power-law cusps with either unresolved or marginally resolved cores, three appear to have resolved cores with surrounding power-law structure that is unlike a King model, and two are approximately described by King model fits. The observed power-law cusps are consistent with the predictions of Fokker-Planck models for core-collapse.

Lugger, Phyllis M.↗

X-ray spectra of supernova remnants

The X-ray spectra of supernova remnants are discussed, and their implications for the emission mechanism are considered. A model-fitting procedure for analyzing spectral information is presented, and alternative data presentations are indicated. Model spectra expected from diffuse X-ray sources, in which X-ray transfer effects are minimized, are calculated for the cases of Compton interactions, synchrotron radiation and bremsstrahlung. The emission mechanisms of supernova remnants are then considered, and it is pointed out that whereas it is certain that the X radiation from the Crab pulsar arises from synchrotron emission, the kinetic mechanisms giving rise to X-ray emission in the nonpulsar SNRs are not understood. Results of Einstein Observatory solid state spectrometer measurements of the Cas A, Tycho and Puppis A are then presented which are fit by two-temperature thermal spectra, and the Crab SNR, fit by a power-law model. Spectral trends in the older and younger SNRs are pointed out, and the role of Einstein imaging data in future detailed modeling necessary to convert apparent abundances into true abundances is indicated.

Holt, S. S.↗

A New Method for the Evaluation of Majority and Minority Carrier Contact Resistivity of Polysilicon on Oxide Contacts

In this contribution we present a novel technique for characterizing the majority and minority carrier contact resistivity in polysilicon on oxide passivating contacts. Traditionally, contact resistivity is measured through the Transfer Length Method (TLM). This method presents difficulties when measuring the minority carrier contact due to the presence of a blocking diode which prevents current flow between the pads. Our novel method is performed by creating a unipolar device which has the same contact on both sides (either symmetric n-type or symmetric p-type) and metalizing the device with a grid on one side, and a full metal contact on the back (the same pattern that will be used in a final cell). We then measure the resistance across the device at increasing illumination. Since the resistivity of the wafer is a function of carrier density, when increasing illumination, the wafer resistivity decreases. We can then fit modeling equations to the measured resistivity and extrapolate the fit to infinite illumination where only the contact resistivity is measured to accurately measure both the minority and majority carrier contact resistivity.

current measurement↗

Corona, Jet, and Relativistic Line Models for Suzaku/RXTE/Chandra-HETG Observations of the Cygnus X-1 Hard State

Using Suzaku and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), we have conducted a series of four simultaneous observations of the galactic black hole candidate Cyg X-1 in what were historically faint and spectrally hard "low states". Additionally, all of these observations occurred near superior conjunction with our line of sight to the X-ray source passing through the dense phases of the "focused wind" from the mass donating secondary. One of our observations was also simultaneous with observations by the Chandra-High Energy Transmission Grating (HETG). These latter spectra are crucial for revealing the ionized absorption due to the secondary s focused wind. Such absorption is present and must be accounted for in all four spectra. These simultaneous data give an unprecedented view of the 0.8-300 keV spectrum of Cyg X-1, and hence bear upon both corona and X-ray emitting jet models of black hole hard states. Three models fit the spectra well: coronae with thermal or mixed thermal/non-thermal electron populations, and jets. All three models require a soft component that we fit with a low temperature disk spectrum with an inner radius of only a few tens of GM/c2. All three models also agree that the known spectral break at 10 keV is not solely due to the presence of reflection, but each gives a different underlying explanation for the augmentation of this break. Thus whereas all three models require that there is a relativistically broadened Fe line, the strength and inner radius of such a line is dependent upon the specific model, thus making premature line-based estimates of the black hole spin in the Cyg X-1 system. We look at the relativistic line in detail, accounting for the narrow Fe emission and ionized absorption detected by HETG. Although the specific relativistic parameters of the line are continuum-dependent, none of the broad line fits allow for an inner disk radius that is > 40 GM/c(sup 2).

Nowak, Michael A.↗

Single Crystal Plasticity Model with Deformation Twinning for the High Rate Deformation of β-HMX

Deformation twinning is an active deformation mechanism during loading along certain crystallographic directions of β-cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (β-HMX). In this work, a finite strain thermomechanical model is extended to include twinning as a deformation mechanism in addition to plastic slip. The stress is derived from the free energy expression including a term representing the equation of state. The crystal plasticity framework is used to divide the total strain into inelastic and elastic component, where the elastic part is used in the expression for the free energy. The twin systems are treated as pseudo slip systems and the shear rate on the twin systems is evaluated in terms of the twin resistance and the projection of the stress tensor. The model parameters were calibrated against a set of plate impact experiments performed on β-HMX by Dick et al. The remaining plate impact experiments are used to evaluate the predictive capability of the model. The quality of the model fits and predictions is discussed from a physical and modeling perspective. Particularly, the role of twin modeling on results is highlighted. Finally, the model is used to explore the relationship between the propensity for twinning and crystal orientation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A Census of Star Formation in the Outer Galaxy. II. The GLIMPSE360 Field

We have conducted a study of star formation in the outer Galaxy from 65°< l < 265° in the region observed by the GLIMPSE360 program. This Spitzer warm mission program mapped the plane of the outer Milky Way with IRAC at 3.6 and 4.5 μm. We combine the IRAC, Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), and Two Micron All Sky Survey catalogs and our previous results from another outer Galaxy survey and identify a total of 47,338 young stellar objects (YSOs) across the field spanning >180° in Galactic longitude. Using the DBSCAN method on the combined catalog, we identify 618 clusters or aggregations of YSOs having five or more members. We identify 10,476 class I, 29,604 class II, and 7325 anemic class II/class III YSOs. The ratio of YSOs identified as members of clusters was 25,528/47,338, or 54%. We found that 100 of the clusters identified have previously measured distances in the WISE H ii survey. We used these distances in our spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting of the YSOs in these clusters, of which 96 had YSOs with <3σ fits. We used the derived masses from the SED model fits to estimate the initial mass function (IMF) in the inner and outer Galaxy clusters; dividing the clusters by galactocentric distances, the slopes were Γ = 1.87 ± 0.31 above 3 M {sub ⊙} for R {sub Gal} < 11.5 kpc and Γ = 1.15 ± 0.24 above 3 M {sub ⊙} for R {sub Gal} > 11.5 kpc. The slope of the combined IMF was found to be Γ = 1.92 ± 0.42 above 3 M {sub ⊙}. These values are consistent with each other within the uncertainties and with literature values in the inner Galaxy high-mass star formation regions. The slopes are likely also consistent with a universal Salpeter IMF.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Energy dependence of the P(bar)/P ratio in cosmic rays

The antiproton/proton /P(bar)/P/ratio is presented for seven kinetic energy intervals from 4.4 - 13.4 GeV. The P(bar) were observed in 1979 by the New Mexico State University balloon-borne magnet spectrometer. The observations are compared to various models including secondary production in a leaky box. A decline in the P(bar)/P ratio at low energies is expected if the P(bar) are produced as secondaries. The data are consistent with such a decline but the P(bar)/P ratio is much higher than expected. The confidence level is less than 0.0001 for a model based on a leaky box with a mean-matter-traversed lambda of 7 gm/sq cm. The best leaky-box-model fit obtained by varying lambda gives a confidence level of 0.12 for lambda l= 21 + or - 3 gm/sq c. Results are also presented for fits based on the closed-galaxy and other models.

Golden, R. L.↗

Oblique convergence and deformation along the Kuril and Japan trenches

The hypothesis that present-day deformation within the southern Kuril forearc is driven by oblique subduction of the Pacific plate is tested using 397 horizontal slip directions derived from shallow-thrust earthquakes from the Kuril and Japan trenches for the period 1963-1991. A simple two-plate model fits the 397 slip vectors significantly worse than a model that permits strike-slip motion of the southern Kuril forearc relative to the overlying plate. Weighted, mean slip directions along the southern Kuril trench are systematically rotated toward the direction orthogonal to the trench, which implies that the net convergence is partitioned into less oblique subduction and trench-parallel displacement of the southern Kuril forearc. The angular discrepancy between the observed slip direction and the direction predicted by the NUVEL-1 Pacific-North America Euler vector implies that the southern Kuril forearc translates 6-11 mm/yr to the southwest relative to the overlying North American plate. These results are consistent with geologically, geodetically, and seismologically observed convergence at the leading edge of the forearc sliver in southern Kokkaido and with previously inferred extension at the trailing edge of the sliver, which is located at the Bussol Strait at 46 deg N.

Demets, Charles↗

Subsurface Emission Effects in AMSR-E Measurements: Implications for Land Surface Microwave Emissivity Retrieval

An analysis of land surface microwave emission time series shows that the characteristic diurnal signature associated with subsurface emission in sandy deserts carry over to arid and semi-arid region worldwide. Prior work found that diurnal variation of Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) brightness temperatures in deserts was small relative to International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project land surface temperature (LST) variation and that the difference varied with surface type and was largest in sand sea regions. Here we find more widespread subsurface emission effects in Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-EOS (AMSR-E) measurements. The AMSR-E orbit has equator crossing times near 01:30 and 13 :30 local time, resulting in sampling when near-surface temperature gradients are likely to be large and amplifying the influence of emission depth on effective emitting temperature relative to other factors. AMSR-E measurements are also temporally coincident with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LST measurements, eliminating time lag as a source of LST uncertainty and reducing LST errors due to undetected clouds. This paper presents monthly global emissivity and emission depth index retrievals for 2003 at 11, 19, 37, and 89 GHz from AMSR-E, MODIS, and SSM/I time series data. Retrieval model fit error, stability, self-consistency, and land surface modeling results provide evidence for the validity of the subsurface emission hypothesis and the retrieval approach. An analysis of emission depth index, emissivity, precipitation, and vegetation index seasonal trends in northern and southern Africa suggests that changes in the emission depth index may be tied to changes in land surface moisture and vegetation conditions

Galantowicz, John F.↗

Bayesian Estimation of Earth’s Undiscovered Mineralogical Diversity Using Noninformative Priors

Recently, statistical distributions have been explored to provide estimates of the mineralogical diversity of Earth, and Earth-like planets. In this paper, a Bayesian approach is introduced to estimate Earth’s undiscovered mineralogical diversity. Samples are generated from a posterior distribution of the model parameters using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations such that estimates and inference are directly obtained. It was previously shown that the mineral species frequency distribution conforms to a generalized inverse Gauss–Poisson (GIGP) large number of rare events model. Even though the model fit was good, the population size estimate obtained by using this model was found to be unreasonably low by mineralogists. In this paper, several zero-truncated, mixed Poisson distributions are fitted and compared, where the Poisson-lognormal distribution is found to provide the best fit. Subsequently, the population size estimates obtained by Bayesian methods are compared to the empirical Bayes estimates. Species accumulation curves are constructed and employed to estimate the population size as a function of sampling size. Finally, the relative abundances, and hence the occurrence probabilities of species in a random sample, are calculated numerically for all mineral species in Earth’s crust using the Poisson-lognormal distribution. These calculations are connected and compared to the calculations obtained in a previous paper using the GIGP model for which mineralogical criteria of an Earth-like planet were given.

Bayesian statistics↗

Advanced Models of Accretion Disk Atmospheres and Spectra for Close Binary Stars

This work led to the development of code for fitting models to data, and to an understanding of the nature of the models which enabled a more rapid search of 'parameter space' for optimal fits to spectral data sets. The code was used to find optimal fits to IUE spectra of quiescent dwarf novae that have been reported to show evidence for the white dwarf. The models consisted of a white dwarf component and an accretion disk with boundary conditions appropriate for the choice of the white dwarf. The preliminary work has strengthened the initial impression that accretion disk spectra can mimic the appearance of white dwarf spectra in the short-wavelength ultraviolet, so that additional constraints (such as distance) are needed to distinguish to two cases.

Wade, Richard A.↗